Westchester/Playa HomeTown News November edition by Westchester/Playa del Rey HomeTown News

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Westchester Playa Village employee and Westchester resident, Elvy Crane (right), helps WPV members in a game of bingo at a recent social event.

Westchester Playa Village celebrates milestone in providing services to area seniors For Westchester Playa Village (WPV) Executive Director, Carol Kitabayashi, not a day goes by that she’s not thinking about how to improve the lives of local area seniors. Kitabayashi joined the WPV team in 2012 and hasn’t looked back since. This month, the nonprofit, a membership organization that helps

A Look Inside Your

HomeTown

seniors age in place by providing them valuable services and support to remain independent, is celebrating a major milestone having just reached over 100 members and Kitabayashi couldn’t be more proud of the impact WPV is having. “WPV members continue to find purpose and meaning in their lives

Hometown astronaut to give talk at Day of Discovery

knowing WPV enables them to keep doing the things they enjoy, be it weekly bridge, taking an exercise or painting class, going shopping or visiting grandchildren,” said Kitabayashi. “WPV provides our members opportunities to learn, grow, give back to others and do things they never dreamt they’d do, like be in a

fashion show.” Most of the group’s members are in their 70s, 80s and 90s, but still want to live active, engaged lives. The loss of spouses, friends and losing the ability to drive, however, can make this difficult. Kitabayashi explains that even though seniors may have good (continued on page 4)

Ayara serves up a fall favorite

The Spirit of Giving

Hometown astronaut returns to Westchester for Day of Discovery aerospace event at LMU There are only 543 people who have ever traveled to space, and the Westchester/Playa area is lucky to count one of the most distinguished astronauts among its former residents. General Kevin Chilton was born and raised in Westchester and attended Visitation Catholic School before graduating St. Bernard High School in Playa del Rey. After high school, he joined the United States Air Force with a dream to eventually become a commercial pilot, but ended up spending eleven years as a NASA astronaut. He would take three trips into space, including one on the maiden voyage of the Endeavour, which is now housed at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. Before retiring in 2011, General Chilton became the only former astronaut to achieve the rank of four-star general. Chilton will return to his hometown on Saturday, November 7 to be the keynote speaker at the inaugural Day of Discovery event presented by LAWA and Loyola Marymount University. The HomeTown News recently spoke with Chilton from his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado to talk about growing up in Westchester and his time as an astronaut. Below is our Q&A. HTN: Did you know you always wanted to be an astronaut? Chilton: Never once, that I can recall, did it cross my mind that it would be something that I wanted to do, would be interested in or could possibly do when I was young. For me, it was just an evolution along my way. Really what I wanted to be, as a young boy probably at the age of 10 or 12, was be an airline pilot because my mother was a stewardess for American Airlines in the 1940s before she married my father and her best friends for life were fellow stewardesses. One of them was married to a gentleman who was a

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United Airlines’ pilot and they were such close family friends we called them aunt and uncle and we spent a lot of time growing up together with their kids. He seemed to really like his job. I remember for sure growing up in the shadows of LAX, where I loved being at the beach watching the airplanes fly overhead. My father would take us on occasion to the end of the runway to watch the airplanes fly over the top of us…My goal was to become an airline pilot. HTN: How did living in Westchester, so near LAX, influence your desire to pursue a career in aviation? Chilton: I think just the wonder of flight and I think probably a little exposure at home with mom’s connection with the airline industry and my father [working as an] aeronautical engineer for Douglas Aircraft. I can remember building airplane models with him as a young boy. I’ve always been fascinated with airplanes and how they worked and I loved watching them. I also had the opportunity to fly on an airplane when I was young. I remember when I was about twelve or thirteen, the son of the airline pilot, who I called my cousin, on his birthday his father bought him a $5 trip for a one hour flight out of Torrance Airport on a Cessna 172 and he could bring a friend along. He called me up and I went and that was my first flight in a small airplane. I got to fly for about thirty minutes and then we switched seats, and then he flew with an instructor. I remember we flew around Palos Verdes, out over the ocean, and over Long Beach before landing at Torrance Airport. As we were taxing back in, I turned to the guy and I said ‘Do they pay you to do this?’ He laughed and he said ‘Yeah, this is my job’ and I thought, ‘How

General Chilton, third from right, poses with his STS-49 crew. This was Chilton’s first spaceflight and the maiden voyage of Endeavour, which is now on display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. PHOTO COURTESY NASA.

cool is that to be able to do something this fun and people actually pay you to do it.’ That flight probably really cemented in me the desire to learn how to fly. HTN: You went to space three different times. Do you have a favorite mission and why? Chilton: I couldn’t say, they are all special in their own way. The first time was really special, because it was my first flight and I was the only rookie on the flight and it was the maiden voyage of Endeavour, which now sits in the museum downtown. Endeavour and I flew into space together for the first time, and that was pretty nice. It was a very exciting mission; there were a lot of difficulties and high drama, but it turned out successful in the end. We were launched with a rocket motor in the cargo bay and our job was to rendezvous with a satellite that was stuck in a low orbit and to capture it and attach it to the rocket motor and then launch the satellite

and the rocket motor away from the shuttle. That was going to boost the satellite up into high orbit, the correct orbit. We had a lot of difficulty in capturing the satellite and we had to be really innovative and do some things that had never been done before in the program… A lot of things went wrong on that mission, but it was a great team effort with the ground and the crew to figure it all out and make it work in the end. It didn’t go at all like we had dress rehearsed, so that was the high drama.; NASA’s abilities to solve problems really shown through on that mission. HTN: Do you have a favorite story from your time in space? Chilton: No, I guess not. I have a bunch of little stories, some favorite rookie stories; being the new guy you always make funny mistakes that people laugh at. For example, I remember that we had been up there for about six days (continued on page 9)

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

This Month Brings You A look inside your HTN WPV celebrates milestone Business and Nonprofit News The Spirit of Giving Finding your own perfection

04 10 12-13 16

HOMETOWN STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Stephanie Davis, Publisher, Editor Sarah Ahern, Contributing Writer Jeff Blair, Contributing Writer

Fay Craton, Contributing Writer David “Duke” Dukesherer Sr., Looking Back

Advertisers’ Directory

Airport Marina Counseling Business & Professional Covenant Presbyterian Church Custom Design & Construction Drollinger Properties El Segundo Car Wash Food Pantry, LAX Kevin and Kaz Gallaher Gateway to GO! HeadQuarters Salon Jane St. John LA Arts Collective Loyola Marymount Marina del Rey Hospital Neighborhood Council

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Otterstrom and Orenstein 20 Playa Vista Medical Plaza 23 Silver Seminar Series 15 Socal Sports and Fitness 22 Vergari and Napolitano 11 Vistamar School 09 Visitation School 07 02 Westchester Family YMCA Westchester Lutheran 03, 05 Westchester/Playa Village 22 Westchester Town Center BID 03 Westside Neighborhood School 09 06 Wright Middle School Zacha Homes 18

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.

Got Thanks?

Start the theCelebrate New Year Year looking lookingFreedom! in the the right right direction...Up! direction...Up! Start New in

Celebra Start the New Year Year lo lo Start the New In this season of thanks, come celebrate with us – a community of people who rejoice in what they have and who workdoubt. that others can havefrom more.fear. Freedom from Freedom

Star theNewYearlo kingintherightdirection. Up! Join us study, andLutheran service. GetChurch, to know Join usforatworship, Westchester us as we all work to know the Lord better. Be and embrace the freedom found in part a of a vibrant family that is thankful daily for our blessings, loving, forgiving relationship with the for our opportunities, and for each other.

Lord. Join new friends in a celebration of everything that is possible when you live Come join the celebration. We’ll have one more in harmony with the Word. reason to be thankful.

All are welcome.

• Worship and Sunday School– • Friday Family Festival– Sundays at 10 a.m. November 13 at 6 p.m. • High School and Adult Classes– • School Open House (PreK-2nd Sundays at 8:45 a.m. grades)– Sunday, Nov. 15 at • Confirmation Class– 1-3 p.m. Come look up with us. Come look Sundays at 11 a.m. up with us. • High School Movie Night– • On This Rock (grade 1 & up) – Friday, Nov. 20 at 6:30-10 p.m. Sundays at 10 a.m. Friday,Weekly Nov. 6Worship at 6:30-8 p.m. • Midweek Bible Study– Summer Choir Rehearsal Sundays at 9 a.m. • MiddleVacation School Bible Fellowship– Wednesdays at27 p.m. School July 29-August 8-10 p.m. • Messiah Chorus Rehearsals – Nov. 8, 15, 22, 29 at 1-3 p.m.

All are welcome. Come celebrate with us!

7831 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Westchester, CA 90045 310.670.5422 www.wlcs.org

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

November 2015 • Page 3

WPV hits milestone (continued) (continued from page 1) relationships with their family members, work schedules, childcare obligations and a lack of time can leave them on their own for tasks that become increasingly more difficult as we get older like getting to appointments, household chores and navigating technology. That’s where WPV comes in. Seniors pay a yearly fee to join and are then able to receive a wide variety of services provided by screened volunteers. While each member has different needs, Kitabayashi says the most popular service they provide is transportation to and from medical appointments, the grocery store and the hair salon. For Bea Vasek, who has been a Westchester resident for 49 years, joining WPV two years ago has exceeded her expectations and has enabled her to continue living an independent life in her own home, even after her husband passed away two years ago. “Westchester Playa Village meets all the needs that I want. They are amazing and like my second family,” said Vasek. “I’m more independent now and can get out. I have made such wonderful friends and everyone is so generous and kind. I am happy with the entire program.” Vasek mostly uses her membership for transportation needs, but also makes ample use of WPV’s social

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activities. So far this year, the group has held 17 programs at the Westchester Senior Center, as well as held field trip, holiday celebrations and exercise classes. The nonprofit also collaborates with the Westchester Family YMCA, Airport Marina Counseling Service and EmpowerTech to host the monthly Silver Seminar Series, giving area seniors the opportunity to hear about a variety of topics including technology, health and financial issues. According to Kitabayashi, WPV’s most well attended events are their spring and holiday dance, which are open to all area seniors. Their holiday dance with music, refreshments and prizes will take place on Thursday, December 10 at the Westchester Senior Center. While members are flourishing thanks to the program, so are volunteers. Westchester resident Jody Onoroto has volunteered with the organization for five years, and she is also an approved vendor that helps seniors downsize and organize their homes. She volunteers four to five hours a month, mostly driving seniors to their appointments, and she says volunteering has helped enrich her life. She encourages others to get involved. “Volunteering has added so much to my already meaningful life. I guarantee you will love the commitment and it’s so workable,” said Onoroto. “You

will meet lovely seniors and great volunteers. I had a full life before WPV and it’s even better now. WPV is constantly building community. I’m just tickled to be involved.” For Martha Horn, WPV provides a place to give back and feel like you’re making a difference. “I usually drive once or twice a week, and the village has provided me with many opportunities to indulge my talents and interests. I help organize our social events and enjoy baking and arranging floral centerpieces for them,” said Horn. “Over the years I have altered curtains, purchased and hung draperies, hemmed clothing, baked hundreds of cookies, written articles for the paper, listened to fascinating, funny and heart breaking stories while driving, and laughed and cried with members. I have felt truly useful and very much appreciated.” The group’s volunteer base is at an all-time high with 170 people, but Kitabayashi says they are always looking to add more. Volunteers range from retirees, business owners and college students who can volunteer as much or as little time as their schedule permits. Some carve out just twenty minutes a week to offer a senior a ride to church or a beauty appointment. A recent membership survey conducted by the UC Berkeley Center for the Advanced Studies for Aging Services, had 60% of members

reporting their quality of life has improved since joining and 92% of members said they are very satisfied or extremely satisfied with their involvement in WPV. Kitabayashi is not surprised by the results. She is confident that WPV and its services are positively impacting its members and volunteers alike. The organization is currently working on expanding its service area, something Kitabayashi says could not have been done without the leadership and support of the late Morrey Plotkin and Karen Dial of the Drollinger Charitable Foundation. “WPV is a very special community of caring and giving people. You may not feel you need our help now, but why wait? We do so much more than provide rides for those who no longer drive,” said Kitabayashi. “We have touching stories of friendships that have formed, and people who have stayed or reconnected because of the village. WPV is a cost effective, valuable resource that can supplement the help you may already receive from family and friends. Give us a call!” For more information on WPV, please visit thewpv.org or call (310) 695-7030. Those interested in volunteering can register online and are required to pass a background check, a DMV record review and an interview.

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

November 2015 • Page 5

School News

TheHTN.com

Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa’s Education Committee co-chair, Michele Cooley-Strickland (left), moderates the Westside Education Forum, which featured panelists Steve Zimmer, LAUSD school board president; Cheryl Hildreth, Instructional Area Superintendent and Michelle King, LAUSD Chief Deputy Superintendent. The event was held on Monday, October 26 in the Wright Middle School auditorium with an estimated 300 people in attendance.

WSCS helps clean up Westchester. On October 17, Westchester Secondary Charter School (WSCS), a 6-11 grade span middle and high school, hosted its second annual Community Clean-Up Day to show its gratitude for its new location and the Westchester community. The school recently relocated to the campus of First Baptist Church of Westchester. More than 40 parents, teachers, students and church members gathered together to cleanup a portion of La Tijera, as well as nearby streets. According to WSCS teacher Jane Mayer, the school hopes to continue making great relationships with its neighbors and giving back to the community that has embraced them. The community is invited to a Prospective Families Night on Tuesday, November 17 at 6 p.m. and a campus tour on Wednesday, November 18 at 9 a.m. WSCS is located at 8540 La Tijera Blvd. in Westchester. For more info, visit westchestercharter.org. Open Magnet Charter Fall Festival. Open Magnet Charter School is hosting its annual Fall Family Festival on Saturday, November 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guests can purchase tickets to enjoy food, a haunted house, a glowing fairyland, chariot races, water balloons, games, prizes, a cake walk and more. The event will take place on the Page 6 • November 2015

WSCS students pose for a picture after helping clean-up La Tijera Blvd.

campus of the school, located at 5540 West 77th St. in Westchester. What school is right for your family? Westchester Parents’ Nursery School (WPNS) is hosting an Elementary School Forum to help give parents researching elementary school options a chance to hear from local school representatives. More than a dozen charter, magnet, private and traditional elementary schools will be on hand at the event to speak about their programs and answer questions. The event will take place on Tuesday, November 10 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Loyola Village Elementary School Auditorium, located at 8821 Villanova St. in Westchester. There is a suggested donation of $10, but the event is free for WPNS members. For more info, please call WPNS at (310) 670-5522. Have something to share about your school? Please email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com.

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

November 2015 • Page 7

NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL OF WESTCHESTER / PLAYA Working together to improve our communities!

Neighborhood Councils exist to: • give neighborhoods greater influence on decisions made by local government • make government more responsive to local communities • unite the local community to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods

The Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa presents a

SENIOR CARE RESOURCE EXPO

Join us for information on community resources for the care of aging parents and adult dependent children. Participating Service Organizations

The Neighborhood Council system evolved out of the reform of the Los Angeles City Charter in 1999, as a means of making local government more accessible and representative of the communities that make up the city. The Neighborhood Council of Westchester/ Playa was among the first to be certified in 2001 after a two-year organizational process. There are 31 members on the Board of Directors, representing the various stakeholders in the Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista community. Today, the NCWP has stakeholders who, by their participation, help influence the direction of our community. There are many ways to get involved with your Neighborhood Council, whether as a board member or by joining a committee as a stakeholder. Board members are selected by election or appointment. Elections occur every two years, and half of the board seats are on the ballot. Once elected, board members serve for four years. Board members are expected to complete all required training, attend monthly board meetings, actively serve on at least one of the NCWP committees and proactively participate in matters within our community. Fifteen of the NCWP board seats are reserved for residents only while the remainder are reserved for other segments of our community, e.g., clergy, youth, seniors, service clubs and fraternal organizations, and others.

Saturday November 14 10am to Noon Westchester Senior Citizen Center 8740 Lincoln Boulevard, LA 90045 Light refreshments served

also

The Westchester Senior Citizen Club Financial Planner Michael Frisch Attorney Edgar Saenz Participants and schedule may change

www.ncwpdr.org/senior

2016 Neighborhood Council Elections to be Held June 5

For additional info call (310) 645-9820

Join NCWP for A Potluck on January 5 You are invited to share, to eat and meet your neighbors at Neighborhood Council at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5 in the community room at 7166 Manchester Avenue. Drinks and utensils will be provided. If your last name begins with A through H, please bring a side dish to pass for each plate. If your last name begins with I through P, please bring a salad to share with everybody. If your last name begins with Q through Z, please bring a dessert, sweet as can be! Start the New Year off right getting to know your neighbors and Council Board members.

Next Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa Monthly Board Meeting:

6:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 1 in the Community Room at 7166 W. Manchester Ave. (at Lincoln Blvd.), in Westchester

The upcoming Neighborhood Council election will be held on Sunday, June 5, 2016. The seats that will be on the ballot in June are: • Even numbered Residential Districts - Candidates must live in the residential district denoted by the seat number. Please see our map at www.ncwpdr.org/map to locate these areas in Westchester/ Playa • At Large Seat - a person who lives, works, or owns property within the NCWP boundaries. • At-Large Affirmation Seat - a person who lives, works or owns property within the NCWP boundaries or declares a stake in the neighborhood and affirms the factual basis for it. • Business Seats in 90045 and 90293 - a business owner or manager of a business licensed with the City of Los Angeles, located within the NCWP boundaries in a commercial location. • Community Organizations Seat - an officer or director of a nonpolitical community organization located and regularly meeting within the NCWP boundaries. • Education Seat - an educator or administrator affiliated with a K-12 school located within the NCWP boundaries. • Loyola Marymount University Seat - an administrator or staff member of Loyola Marymount University • Service Clubs and Fraternal Organizations Seat - a member of a service club or fraternal organization located within the NCWP boundaries. • Youth Organization Seat- a person who is affiliated with a youth organization located within the NCWP. Details and deadlines will follow. You can also stay informed by signing up for the NC meeting agendas at www.ncwpdr.org and other general NC election related information at www.emplowerla.org/ elections.

www.ncwpdr.org • 213.473.7023 Page 8 • November 2015

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

Astronaut (continued) (continued from page 2) on my first flight, and Kathy Thornton, one of my crew mates said, ‘Kevin have you been able to make the ceiling the floor yet?’ and I said, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ She said, ‘OK, you haven’t, so tonight we’ll have dinner on the ceiling.’ That night, as a crew, we sat on the ceiling to eat dinner and about halfway through the meal, suddenly the ceiling became the floor for me and not the ceiling. I didn’t feel like I was in the wrong spot, and then suddenly, mentally, I could make any wall [or ceiling]…my floor. It was an interesting experience to finally adapt to this zero gravity, where you get to decide which way is up. HTN: At the Day of Discovery event, there will be a lot of students and young people who are exploring the idea of careers in aviation and aerospace. What advice can you give someone who is showing interest in pursuing a career in these fields? Chilton: If you like airplanes, if you like aviation, if you like space, and you think that would interest you, absolutely go for it. Everybody has got to have a job, you want to be a productive member of society and you have to make a living, so

how special is it to have a job that you love doing everyday and that when you wake up in the morning you can’t wait to go do it. It’s linking your passion to your interest and your strengths. If you think you’re interested in this, give it a go and try. If it becomes your passion, you’ll never work a day in your life and people will pay you. It’s not for everybody and it doesn’t interest everybody, but when I was young, aviation fascinated me, so that’s why I went that way. It’s turned out to meet every expectation and exceed every expectation that I ever had. *** The Day of Discovery event will take place on Saturday, November 7 in LMU’s University Hall, located at 1 LMU Drive in Westchester and will feature exhibits from local aerospace and aviation groups, including museums, as well as information about pursuing careers in these fields. The expo part of the event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with Chilton speaking from 1 to 2 p.m. Raffle prizes, giveaways and refreshments round out the event. For more information, please visit lawa.org/dayofdiscovery.com.

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

November 2015 • Page 9

Business & Nonprofit News

TheHTN.com

The Organic Watermelon Salad is one of the new items on the Simply 600 menu that was recently launched at the Daily Grill.

Ayara serves up a fall favorite. For a limited time only, Westchester’s Ayara Thai is serving up its favorite fall dessert: Pumpkin Creme Brulee. The creme brulee is light and creamy and served cold in a special mini pumpkin. The dessert will be available at the restaurant until they are out of the ingredients, which usually takes place mid-November. Ayara Thai Cuisine was voted Best Thai Restaurant in the 2015 HomeTown News’ Best of Readers’ Poll and is located at 6245 W. 87th Street in Westchester. YMCA plants sustainable community garden. On October 8, in celebration of Delta Airlines’ Day of Service, Delta employees worked alongside nearly forty third through eighth grade students from the Westchester Family YMCA’s afterschool program to plant a sustainable community garden. The garden, located on the Westchester Family YMCA campus, will help beautify a community space that welcomes more than 3,000 people each year. “Bringing people and community organizations together is at the core of all Y programs and activities,” said John Loussararian, Executive Director of the Westchester Family YMCA. “Without the generosity of corporate leaders like Delta Airlines, we would be limited in our impact. Together, we move individuals, families and our community forward.” Page 10 • November 2015

and body language; the history of LAX and the Ballona Wetlands; the political landscape of Los Angeles; Marina del Rey tourism and hospitality and more. Leadership Academy, which starts November 19, also includes four continuing education units from Loyola Marymount University. For more information, please contact the LAX Coastal Chamber at (310) 645-5151.

Members of the Westchester Family YMCA’s afterschool program help plant a sustainable community garden on the neighborhood gym’s property.

The Surfrider Foundation and Heaven on Earth Landscaping provided guidance for plant selection and placement, while also educating the gardeners about creating an ecofriendly and drought-tolerant garden. Support for this project was also provided by the Westchester Streetscape Improvement Association and others. Leaders wanted. Do you want to get more involved with the local community or perhaps take more of a leadership role in an organization that you volunteer with? The LAX Coastal Leadership Academy looks to

bring dynamic individuals together for a seven-course program that meets monthly to educate, evaluate and enhance personal growth. The program aims to develop and nurture leadership skills, all while exploring the local political landscape and rich history of the Westchester, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Marina del Rey and Del Rey area. Now in its ninth year, more than 100 participants, including entrepreneurs, educators and community leaders have graduated from the program. Each class is limited to no more than 25 participants and topics include styles of communication; public speaking

Daily Grill launches new low calorie menu. The Daily Grill, with a location in Westchester inside the Westin Los Angeles Airport, has recently announced a new locally-inspired menu for lunch and dinner, all with 600 calories or less. The Simply 600 menu offers a selection of fresh fare including Organic Watermelon and Cucumber Salad; Red Quinoa and Arugula Salad; and Ahi Tuna Nicoise Salad. Guests with gluten sensitivities will also experience extended menu choices, in addition to the salads, including Thai Spiced Steak Lettuce Cups, Green Tea Poached Wild Salmon and the Grilled Vegetable Plate. “Eating well doesn’t necessarily mean sacrificing the flavor of a dish,” said Daily Grill Executive Chef Phil Kastel. “Through the new Simply 600 menu, our culinary team has focused on broadening the variety of options given to Daily Grill guests, while incorporating healthful ingredients (continued on next page)

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

Pumpkin Creme Brulee is available for a limited time at Westchester’s Ayara Thai.

packed with flavor. Recipes are made from scratch each day, allowing the natural flavors of ingredients like watermelon, arugula and heirloom tomatoes to shine in these dishes.” The Daily Grill is located at 5410 W. Century Blvd. in Westchester. Yoga Bliss opens in Westchester. Yoga Bliss, a new yoga studio in Westchester, celebrated its grand opening on Monday, October 12. The boutique studio owned by Playa del Rey resident, Lara Estrada,

specializes in vinyasa flow classes for all levels held in a room heated to 85 degrees. To help celebrate its grand opening, Yoga Bliss is offering $10 classes through November. While walk-ins are welcome if there is space available, Estrada recommends signing up for classes online at yogabliss-studio.com. Yoga Bliss is located at 6218 Manchester Ave. in Westchester. 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

November 2015 • Page 11

The holidays are quickly approaching and while our focus turns to decorating, family gatherings, food and gift buying, many are also taken with the “spirit of giving–” a desire to give back to the community, the less fortunate and to nonprofits whose missions’ resonate with our hearts. While there are many worthy causes to give back to, here is our round-up of local opportunities to help spread some good cheer this holiday season:

Badge of Heart Turkey Drive. What would Thanksgiving be without a turkey? Pacific Division police officer and former Westchester resident, Ken Lew, is hoping to distribute as many turkeys as possible on November 22 to help create a memorable Thanksgiving meal for families in need. After visiting home after home, while on duty as an office, and seeing empty refrigerators and families struggling to get by, Lew felt compelled to give back and founded the nonprofit Badge of Heart last year. The organization is holding its first “Tis the Season Turkey Giveaway” for families living in Westchester, Del Rey, Venice, Mar Vista and Palms, and has set a goal of raising $10,000 for the program this season. The families receiving the turkeys will also be sponsored by Pacific Division police officers, and the nonprofit’s partners from local schools, churches and youth groups. Donations are being accepted online at badgeofheart. org and Drollinger Properties has also set up a collection box at their office, located at 8929 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 130 in Westchester.

St. Margaret’s Center 23rd Annual Christmas Program. Every year, St. Margaret’s Center, just a stone’s throw away from Westchester, donates thousands of toys to underprivileged children who live at or below the poverty level and reside in the areas surrounding LAX, at its annual Christmas Program. For the last five years, the HomeTown News, in collaboration with local community groups, has partnered with St. Margaret’s to help collect toys for the program. Toy donations are requested to be valued between $20-$30 to ensure

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that all children receive a gift of equitable value and toys for babies and tweens are especially needed. At the Christmas Program, parents are able to browse the donations and select a toy for their children, which is then beautifully wrapped by volunteers. A drop-box for toys is located at the LAX Coastal Chamber office, located at 9100 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Suite 210 in Westchester and donations can be dropped of Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Interested in donating online? Visit amazon. com, choose “Wish List,” select “St. Margaret’s Center” and toys you purchase will be shipped directly to the center. The last day for donations is Monday, December 14 and the toys will be distributed at the Saturday, December 19 Christmas Program at Morningside High School in Inglewood. For more information, please contact Terry O’Connor at (310) 994-9904 or email terry_ oconnor2012@yahoo.com

Annual Playa del Rey Toy and Animal Shelter Drive. For the last twelve years, neighbors have gathered in Playa del Rey’s Triangle Park to rally the community to donate toys and animal care items for the less fortunate. This year’s drive will take place on Saturday, December 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Triangle Park (at Waterview and Trask) in

Top: Pacific Division officers Ken Lew and Brianna Brown are hoping to raise $10,000 for their first Thanksgiving Turkey Drive. Bottom: Cans of food are stacked at the LAX Food Pantry. At right: Playa del Rey Toy Drive sponsors Jane St. John (left) and Felicia St. Denis (right) pose in front of their banner to promote last year’s event.

Playa del Rey. Interested in getting involved? Organizers are looking for new, unwrapped toys or gift cards for grocery stores and Target to give to the neediest families with a child in Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Those interested in donating to the animal shelter drive, benefiting the ASPCA, are asked to bring new or gently used blankets, pet beds, food and toys. For more information, please call Jane St. John or Julie Porter at (310) 577-5300 x 303.

30 Days of Giving to help end Homelessness. Westchester nonprofit,

Homes for Life Foundation (HFLF), will embark on its firstever “Giving Tuesday” campaign starting Tuesday, December 1. Giving Tuesday, a national movement aimed at encouraging people to donate to charities the Tuesday after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, will help kick-off “30 days of Giving” for HFLF with goal to raise $30,000 by the end of the year. HFLF is the first nonprofit organization in L.A. county dedicated to providing permanent, service-enhanced housing for homeless people who suffer from chronic mental illness. Now in its 28th year, the nonprofit (continued on next page)

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

operates 22 facilities throughout L.A. County and serves 500 clients per year. The nonprofit was founded by Westchester resident, Carol Leiss, after she became frustrated with the lack of help and resources available to the homeless and mentally ill. To donate or learn about HFLF, please visit homesforlife.org or call Jeff Henson at (310) 337-7417 x22.

Holiday Coat Drive. The Kentwood Players are holding their third annual Kentwood Kares Coat Drive for the holidays starting this month. Led by Kentwood Players President Kathy Dershimer, the drive gives the community theater group the opportunity to collect new or gently used coats, jackets or sweaters that will be donated to the Union Rescue Mission located in Downtown. Donations can be dropped off during the theater’s box office hours,

Wednesday through Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. The Westchester Playhouse is located at 8301 Hindry Ave. in Westchester.

Hold a Food Drive. Since 1981, the Westside Food Bank has supplied aid to food assistance organizations, including the Food Pantry LAX, which serves the Westchester/Playa areas. Those interested in holding a food drive for the holidays can contact the food bank to receive a collection barrel to place at their home or office. Participating in the organization’s virtual food drive is even easier, and with a few clicks on westsidefoodbankca.org, you can purchase items like 50 pounds of potatoes for $8 or 20 pounds of spaghetti for $10. Is your organization holding a charity drive or giving back to the community? Let us know at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com!

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November 2015 • Page 13

A Look Back at Westchester/Playa By David J. “Duke” Dukesherer, Sr.

History of Loyola Football With the holidays approaching, the days are shorter, the weather is changing and we are all preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Around here, that means lots of college football; go Bruins, Golden Bears, Wildcats and Roll Tide! Many Westchester residents might be surprised to learn that not too long ago, around here, we were the center of our very own college football team: the Loyola Lions. In the 1930s and later in the early 1950s, Loyola University was a football powerhouse. But despite all of this history and bygone fierce rivalries with the likes of USC, UCLA and the University of Santa Clara, the word “football” is used exactly once on LMU’s Wikipedia page. Football is not mentioned at all on the LMU Lions’ Wiki sports page. But once upon a time, the Lions roared. Shortly after the University

Al Duvall at LMU’s Sullivan Field in 1934. COURTESY DENISE DUVALL, GRANDDAUGHTER OF AL DUVALL.

opened in 1929, on land donated by Fritz Burns, Harry Culver and their associates, the acting head coach of the 1929 champion Notre Dame Irish, Tom Lieb, began to build a new sports’ program at Loyola University. Between 1930 and 1939, Loyola was

a dominant West Coast football team. The wildly popular Lions played most of their home games at the now extinct Gilmore Stadium, but as their fan-base grew, a great many games had to be played at the Los Angeles Coliseum to accommodate the attendance. The team’s practice location, Sullivan Field, located at 80th Street and Loyola Boulevard, is now the home of the school’s soccer program. Sullivan Field was used to film parts of “Knute Rockne, All American,” in 1940, starring Pat O’Brien and future United States President Ronald Reagan. Gilmore Stadium was featured in a 1934 Three Stooges short featuring a football game titled “Three Little Pigskins.” The film was co-written by Domer Griffin Jay, father of local resident Mike Jay (my father-in-law) and featured Lucille Ball and many players from the Loyola varsity team. But in real life things was not so humorous, as the 1930s were still an era of racial segregation and colleges were known as either all black or all white football teams. Jim Crow laws were in full force across America, and unjustifiable hardships impacted

many collegiate and professional athletes. Between 1932 and 1936 Los Angeles local All American, Al Duvall, led the Lions defense. During his three seasons as the defensive end of the Loyola University Football Team, they posted a record of 19-102, and produced 12 shutouts during the 1933, 1934 and 1935 seasons. The remarkable record alone is worthy of praise, but what’s even more significant, is that Al Duvall was an African-American. Al Duvall was born in Texas and growing up in Los Angeles he excelled in sports. As a youth, he was statewide handball champion and captain of the Jefferson High School football team. With no offers made by his choice of colleges, USC, Duvall was accepted at Loyola University where he shined academically and in sports, including football and track and field. Unable to afford the streetcar fair to the area, Duvall often hitchhiked and walked his way to campus from his parent’s home near Exposition Park. (continued on next page)

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A Look Back (continued) (continued from previous page) In October 1934, the Texas-Tech Red Raiders traveled to Los Angeles, and were defeated by the Lions, 12-6. This marked the first time in history when a Texas white college competed against an AfricanAmerican player. The event went unnoticed by most of the major newspapers, and despite coach Tom Lieb’s worries, Duvall praised the Texans for their clean play and good sportsmanship. After graduating from Loyola, Duvall coached local high school teams and earned extra money acting, appearing in many films, including “While Thousands Cheered” (1940) and “Go West” (1940) with the Marx Brothers. When WWII broke out, Duvall enlisted in the Army/AirCorps and served as a Commander with the famed Tuskegee Airmen. When he returned from the war, he married, purchased a home, started a family and was appointed varsity line coach at Loyola. But the glory days of the team had ended when Tom Lieb resigned and moved to coach the Florida Gators. In February 1947, Loyola appointed

former Lion (1930) Bill Sargent as head coach, but Sargent’s team posted an abysmal record, and on November 10, 1948, he resigned. This is when the story of Al Duvall becomes truly remarkable. Football historians have recorded that Willie Jeffries became the first African-American head coach at a predominantly white school, Wichita State, in 1979. This is probably not true. Upon receiving the 1948 resignation of Bill Sargent, Loyola’s Board of Control named two assistant coaches, Bob Shaw and Al Duvall, as co-head coaches of the team. This made Al Duvall the first African-American head coach of a white college in America, a full 31 years before Jeffries. Look for part two of this amazing story in a future issue of the HomeTown News.

Please email comments to dukepdr@gmail.com. *Reprinted from the December 2014 edition of the HomeTown News. Duke will be back next month with a new column.

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November 2015 • Page 15

Random Notes/Opinion

Finding your own perfection By Fay Craton

Opinion: A lot of kids like playing hopscotch. I have many memories of this game from the school playground. I remember being careful to jump into the correct squares and miss the chalk lines defining the boxes. We learn at young ages to compete and be perfect. Yes, the game included laughter, but to jump perfectly into all of the boxes was the goal. Most of us have many childhood memories where doing something perfect was celebrated and doing something less than perfect made us become less important. Depending at what was at stake, there could have even been shame when perfection was not reached. It is not surprising many adults have lots of inner chatter about being “good enough.” Often, part of the belief underlying the chatter includes the idea if you do everything perfect you will be happy and successful. Is the belief that if you do enough tasks perfectly you will be successful part of your inner thinking? Sometimes this thinking expands to believing it is important to control what another person says or does in order for you to appear to be perfect. One of the things I do is teach in LMU Extension’s Alcohol and Drug Counseling Certificate program. Of course, as an instructor I need to grade

assignments. With assignments I try to tell students what will result in a good score and what will result in a poor score. I want to be fair when evaluating achievements. Sometimes students will become stressed and anxious if a perfect score is not achieved. In the struggle to be perfect, it is easy to miss the fact that being “good enough” can mean being better than “perfect.” Being perfect – being the best – can be about allowing other people to tell you how valuable you are. People will judge you based on a lot of different factors and not everybody will judge you based on fairness. There are people who will always judge you to be insignificant or of little value. Sometimes this is because some people believe if you are good at something or have something, that he or she cannot also have it. This belief can lead to an attempt by another person to control you and/or get everyone else to perceive you as “less” and he or she as being “best.” Being perfect by a standard set by someone else is found outside of yourself. To achieve a perfection which is based on an external standard, you may be discounting your own value. By determining your value by standards set by other people, you give up your choices to someone else. This means you give the direction of your life, and your own personal power, to someone

else. Claiming your right to make choices about your life is an important part of self-care and developing resilience. The truth is everybody has strengths or unique qualities that contribute to this world. Do you know what your strengths are? Your strengths are different from the strengths of another person. Collectively, we need everybody’s unique skills to experience lives of meaning. When you fully accept your own strengths, you increase the amount of satisfaction you experience. When you add to accepting your own strengths a measure of self-care, you increase your personal contentment. This place of personal acceptance is found inside of you and not from the opinions of other people. When you start viewing your life internally instead of externally, you may find being “good enough” brings you to a much happier place than trying always to be “perfect.” How do you make the shift from finding your value internally, instead of externally? Let’s think back to playing hopscotch. What was the enjoyment and laughter about? There was physical activity which helps build resiliency. The game was about being in the moment. While there was a desire to do your best, if you made a mistake, it really didn’t matter all that much. It was about finding internal balance

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and jumping from spot to spot. Over several games, everybody inevitably jumped on a line. It was not about being hopscotch champion. Internal balance is found when you treasure the moment and value your own worth. This idea is not about being serious and righteous. It is more about being light, buoyant and being willing to smile. It is okay to laugh when you make a mistake. If you are not accustomed to embracing your own inner balance, it may take practice. It can be helpful to include play while learning. Skills flow through you from a deep inner place. When you share your uniqueness it can feel like joy and other people can be better as a result of it. My wish is for you to experience opportunities to play, laugh and discover your own values and strengths. As we enter this year’s holiday season, I wish for you to remember “perfection” does not need to be something you strive toward based on another person’s judgments. I wish for you to find your own “good enough” based upon your own choices in life. Fay Craton, M.A. is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (mfc40011). She has an office in Westchester. Contact her at visitcommunicationtriangle.com or call (310) 645-6762.

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

Focus on small fitness goals for the holidays By Jeff Blair Opinion: While I usually believe people should set big goals to help motivate them, now is the time for small fitness goals. Depending what study you read, most people gain between 1 to 5 pounds over the holidays. I know you don’t want to be one of those statistics, so let’s try to get you going in the other direction: set a goal to lose 1-2 pounds over the holidays! While 1-2 pounds might not sound like much, it will help create a successful mindset over these next 8 weeks or so. By making just three small commitments, you can reach January 1 feeling and looking great. It has been said “failure to plan is a plan to fail,” and this is true in healthy weight management. Commit to the following plan to improve your fitness over the next two months. Step 1: Don’t Sabotage Yourself. Almost everyone is going to indulge a bit over the holidays. It would be hard to survive the most “wonderful time of the year” and not have a few nibbles of dessert or a bite of some decadent party food. You do not have to bring these items home from the parties, though. Ever notice the person who hands you the brownies as you leave the party is lean and trim? They know the secret of avoiding excess calories through “strategic distribution.” They “let” you take the brownies home so they won’t eat them. Sneaky…but smart! Leave the party food where it belongs: at the party. There is a saying in healthy eating circles, “if it is in the house, it is going to get eaten.” Keep the temptations out of your home and limit the snacking to parties. Step 2: Stock Up on the Good Stuff. Rather than spending the next eight weeks “off the wagon,” try to maintain normal, healthy eating habits most of the time. Eat a solid breakfast, lunch and dinner and try not to skip meals. Keep your cupboard and refrigerator stocked with healthy vegetables, fruits and lean proteins. Try to eat meals from home as often as possible. I once overheard someone say “I am going to a big party tonight where there is going to be lots of rich food so I am not going to eat all day.”

Whoa…this is bad strategy! If you are going to a party where you know there will be high-calorie food, eat throughout the day as you normally would. You will be better able to control your appetite at the party if you eat before you go. This does not mean you should not have anything at the party, but you will be less likely to go overboard. One tip that helps people at this time of year is trying to limit the holiday snacking to the actual holidays rather than the entire eight week period. Thanksgiving is one day...not four. Step 3: Keep the Workouts on Track. We all have a tendency to slow down at the end of the year. Maybe we are going into hibernation mode or maybe we are distracted by holiday-type events. Whatever the reason, try to turn that around this year: make a commitment to do something active 6 days per week until January 1. By staying active, your body will burn extra calories and your mental state will also benefit. A good week might look like this: weight-training Monday, Wednesday and Friday, a 30 minute walk or run on Tuesday and Thursday, a bike ride on the beach on Saturday and 30 minutes of stretching on Sunday. Mix it up and do not feel like you have to run 10 miles per day to see great benefit. “Sweat every day” is a great goal for the holiday season. By staying active, it will be easier to make healthy food choices or at least moderate you less healthy choices. You will also be better able to cope with the stresses of the holidays. The point of this article is not to “avoid holiday treats.” Rather, it is to simply incorporate some moderation into your lifestyle and maintain or even lose a pound or two during the holidays. Come New Year’s Day, you will be glad you did! 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

November 2015 • Page 17

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

November 2015 • Page 19

Calendar Ongoing monthly events: Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club Join the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club at its Wednesday morning meeting at 7:15 a.m. The club is now meeting 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 $20 and validated self parking is free. Guests are most welcome! Reservations are not required. For information regarding the upcoming luncheon programs, visit rotary-westchester.com.

LAX Kiwanis Club The LAX Kiwanis Club is looking for new members. The club meets every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel, located at 9620 Airport Blvd. in Westchester. Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time. The LAX Kiwanis raise money every year for such causes as providing scholarships, holiday baskets for needy families and back to school shopping sprees. For more information about the club or to RSVP to attend one of their meetings, please email laxkiwanisclub@gmail.com.

TheHTN.com meets every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the YMCA Annex, located at 8020 Alverstone Ave. in Westchester. The donation to the YMCA is $12 a year. For more information, please call Mary Sage at (310) 397-3967.

November events: Exquisite Beauty at Otis’ Ben Maltz Gallery Visit the Ben Maltz Gallery at Otis College of Art and Design for its latest exhibit, Ralph Bacerra: Exquisite Beauty. This is the first retrospective to document the eye-dazzling ceramics created by Ralph Bacerra (1938–2008), a Los Angeles–based artist known for his innovative approach to surface embellishment. The exhibit features more than ninety of the artist’s finest pieces and sculptures. The exhibition is on view through Sunday, December 6. The Ben Maltz Gallery is located on the campus of Otis College of Art and Design at 9045 Lincoln Blvd. in Westchester. Admission and parking is free. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. The gallery will be closed November 25-30. For more info, visit otis.edu/ benmaltzgallery.

WDRLL Sign-Ups Early registration is now open for the Westchester Del Rey Little League’s 2016 season. The league includes girls’ softball and boys and girls tee ball. To be eligible to play, a participant must live within the WDRLL boundary map or attend a school within the boundary map, which includes the areas of Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista. There is a $25 discount for those that sign-up before December 31. For more information, please email registration@wdrll.com or call (424)

259-3772. You can also visit wdrll. com to sign-up.

First Fridays Food Truck Event The First Friday of every month, stop on by 87th Street (the Westchester Triangle) in Westchester for a food truck event. Hosted by the merchants along the quaint Westchester street, First Fridays combine food for purchase from some of L.A.’s best food trucks with an open house atmosphere from the local businesses offering sidewalk sales, snacks and music. This month’s event takes place on Friday, November 6 from 4 to 9 p.m. For more info, visit facebook.com/ WestchesterFirstFridays.

Community Work Day Join the Emerson Avenue Community Garden for its next Community Work Day on Saturday, November 7 from 9 a.m. to noon. After the work day, volunteers are invited to stay for a 30 minute cover crop workshop taught by Dana Morgan. There will also be cover crop seeds available for purchase for a small donation. The Emerson Avenue Community Garden is located on the campus of Orville Wright on Emerson Ave. in Westchester between 80th Street and 80th Place.

Kentwood Players present Somethings Afoot Join the Kentwood Players for the musical murder mystery spoof Somethings Afoot starting Friday, November 13. Somethings Afoot is a musical murder mystery that spoofs detective stories, most particularly Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. The play involves a group of standard British mystery characters–the Cockney servants, the brash retired military man, the imperious dowager, the snoopy spinster, the ne’er-do-well

nephew, the ingénue couple– who are invited to the lake estate of Lord Dudley Rancour. When the wealthy lord is found dead, it’s a comical race against the clock and some outrageous booby traps to find out “whodunit.” The musical runs through Saturday, December 19. Performances are 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 $25 and can be purchased by calling (310) 645-5156 or online at kentwoodplayers.org.

Holiday Craft Fair St. Jerome Catholic Church will hold its annual Holiday Arts and Craft Fair on Saturday, November 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday, November 15 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. All of the items for sale will be unique and handmade. Food and beverages will also be available for purchase. St. Jerome Church Parish Hall is located at 5550 Thornburn Street in Westchester. For more information, please contact Kathy Fitzpatrick at (310) 703-2519.

Elks Lodge Charity Event The Westchester Elks Lodge is holding its annual charity event benefiting the Bob Hope Hollywood USO at LAX and Military Women in Need on Saturday, November 21. The event starts with cocktails at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. There will be live entertainment, dancing and raffles. Dinner tickets are $35 and guests are asked to show their patriotism by wearing red, white and blue. Reservations for the fundraiser are required and can be made by calling the lodge at (310) 821-3005. The Westchester Elks Lodge is located at 8025 W. Manchester Avenue in Playa del Rey. Parking is free in the lodge’s back lot.

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COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS The exhibit, Ralph Bacerra: Exquisite Beauty, is now on display at Otis’ Ben Maltz Gallery and features more than ninety of the artist’s ceramic pieces.

Monday

Sunday

Tuesday

November

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

First Friday @ 6200 87th Street

Exquisite Beauty @ Otis’ Ben Maltz Gallery (through December 6)

Day of Discovery @ LMU Community Work Day @ Emerson Avenue Community Garden Family Fall Festival @ Open Magnet Charter

Gateway to Go! @ Crowne Plaza

Veterans Day Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park

WPNS Elementary School Forum @ Loyola Village Elementary

8 Somethings Afoot @ Westchester Playhouse (through December 19) Open House @ WLCS

Somethings Afoot @ Westchester Playhouse (through December 19)

Holiday Craft Fair @ St. Jerome Church

Gateway to Go! @ Crowne Plaza

Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey

Silver Seminar Series Somethings Afoot @ @ Westchester Senior Westchester Playhouse Center (through December 19) Admissions Tour @ WNS

Gateway to Go! @ Crowne Plaza

Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park

19 Happy Thanksgiving!

Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey

14 Farmers’ Market @ Playa Vista Somethings Afoot @ Westchester Playhouse (through December 19)

20 Somethings Afoot @ Westchester Playhouse (through December 19)

21 Farmers’ Market @ Playa Vista Somethings Afoot @ Westchester Playhouse (through December 19)

Somethings Afoot @ Westchester Playhouse (through December 19)

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

Charity Event benefiting LAX USO @ Elks Lodge

Life story writing class @ YMCA Annex

Somethings Afoot @ Westchester Playhouse

Life story writing class @ YMCA Annex

LMU Advisory Meeting @ Westchester Senior Center

Farmers’ Market @ Playa Vista

Senior Care Resource Expo @ Senior Center

Holiday Craft Fair @ St. Jerome Church

Admissions Tour @ WNS

Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey

Prospective Family Night @ Westchester Secondary Charter

Secrets to a Successful Remodel @ Custom Design and Construction 7

November 2015 • Page 21

In Pictures

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“PUPS” unstress passengers with Halloween parade. LAWA’s PUP (Pets Unstressing Passengers) Program delighted travelers at LAX with its inaugural Halloween Parade through Tom Bradley International Terminal held on October 27. The PUP program is one of the largest airport-run therapy dog programs in the country, and the 35 PUP volunteer and pet teams regularly visit airline boarding-gate areas, greeting passengers and helping reduce travel related anxiety. The program, a division of the airport’s Volunteer Information Professionals, is celebrating its second anniversary this month. To learn more about volunteering for the PUP or VIP programs, please contact the VIP Office at (424) 646-8471 or lawa.org/VIP.

Page 22 • November 2015

Somethings Afoot comes to the Westchester Playhouse. Next up for the Kentwood Players is the musical murder mystery Somethings Afoot opening Friday, November 13. Performances will be held on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. The musical is a spoof of detective stories and is a whodunit set in the English countryside. Pictured: The ladies capture a mysterious stranger, but is he truly the murderer? Clockwise from center: Aaron Eberhardt, Megan Duquette, Lynn Gutstadt, Dana Weisman, Kim Peterson and Elizabeth Bouton. The Westchester Playhouse is located at 8301 Hindry Ave. in Westchester. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at (310) 645-5156 or online at kentwoodplayers.org. PHOTO BY SHARI BARRETT.

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

• Sciatica • Spinal Stenosis • Facet Disease • Bulging Disc • Pinched nerve • Degenerative Disc Disease

• No hospital stay • No lengthy recovery • No surgery, screws, plates or hardware • Better patient satisfaction success rate than big surgeries

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

• Disc Disease • Herniated Disc • Scar Tissue • Arthritis of the Spine • Foraminal Stenosis

•No or minimal incision •No general anesthesia •State-of-the-art Laser Machine •Go back to work the same week

November 2015 • Page 23

Page 24 • November 2015

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