Westchester/Playa HomeTown News September 2020 edition

Manager Sean Moor and bookstore owner Karen Dial pose in front of the Book Jewel’s Staff Picks.

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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

The Book Jewel becomes neighborhood gem Business Spotlight: Super Pop Snacks WAM Weekend gets remixed In your hometown with...the Tuttle Family Westchester/Playa Public Art Scene

04 06 08 18 26

HOMETOWN STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Stephanie Davis, Publisher

Jeff Blair, Contributing Writer Fay Craton, Contributing Writer

Sheri Weitz, Contributing Writer Consuelo Israelson, Contributing Writer

Front page photo by Zsuzsi Steiner for the HomeTown News. Zsuzsiphotography.com.

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 • Website: thehtn.com • Facebook: facebook.com/thehtn The deadline for submissions is the 22nd of each month.

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us on Faceboo to-date with news and us on Faceboo Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

September 2020 • Page 3

Photo by Zsuzsi Steiner.

Karen Dial, Sean Moor and The Book Jewel team pose in the newly opened bookstore. “Caste” is this month’s Mandala Book Club pick.

Neighborhood gem, The Book Jewel, opens in the Westchester Triangle The buzz of excitement was palpable as dozens of community members eagerly waited to enter The Book Jewel at its grand opening on Saturday, August 29 in conjunction with Independent Bookstore Day. After years of pouring her heart and soul into creating a space that the whole community can treasure, not even a mask could hide owner Karen Dial’s smile.

“It’s a dream come true and it’s even more incredible than I could have ever imagined, and I mean that,” said Dial, who described the week leading up the store’s opening as one of the most amazing of her life. “The space turned out so beautiful.”

Opening an independent bookstore in Westchester has been a lifelong dream of Dial’s and a major priority since moving back to her hometown 16 years ago to serve as president of her family’s company, Drollinger Properties. Though many small

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The store’s eclectic shelves are filled with more than 11,000 new and gently used books, as well as thoughtful gifts, cards and items produced by local boutique companies. If you don’t see the book you’re looking for, the staff is happy to order it for you and let you know when it arrives a few days later, said Dial.

For those not comfortable entering into the store, which is stocked with hand sanitizer on nearly every shelf and requires a mask to visit, curbside pickup is available. Looking for gently A look at the Westchester Triangle circa 1950 facing Karl’s, which is now The Book Jewel. used “rare and wonderful” titles, the store will consider books for businesses have been forced to close “During these unusually trying purchase and store credit. their doors and doom and gloom times, everyone’s feeling a little off “Westchester is an incredibly seem to be around every corner, the and some people are feeling really diverse and creative community, opening could not come at a better fearful. This store offers solace and and we want the bookstore to be a time, lifting people’s spirits and a peaceful place for people to mull providing a space for everyone, young around and browse,” she said. “There reflection of that,” said store manager and old, to take their minds off of is a lot of negativity in the world right Sean Moor. “Throughout the store, what is happening in the world today, now, and we all need peaceful spaces in every section, we gave a lot of thought to make sure that all said Dial. to spend our time.”

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

At top: The LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce celebrates its first ribbon cutting in more than six months. Councilmember Mike Bonin and Congresswoman Maxine Waters were on hand for the celebration.

Below: Families peruse the children’s book section on opening day.

voices in our community were represented, whether it’s in literature or cooking or children’s books. We really want the store to be a mosaic.

You’ll find lots of choices here that you won’t find in any other bookstore. Our selection is carefully curated, incredibly diverse and deep.

There are books here that will move you. We also have a lot of books that will change conversations.”

Echoes Dial, “A really big theme of mine is inclusivity. I want everyone to feel welcome in this bookstore.

We want it to feel like home and that people belong here. This is really something special for our community and something that was missing.”

Dial named the store after her mother, Jewel, who loved to read. She says her mother would be thrilled if she saw the store.

“I wanted to create an environment that really inspired people to fall in love with reading,” said Dial. “My mother inspired me to develop a love of books when I was young, and I want to pay that forward by creating a place that makes reading fun. Our stellar literary staff will be on hand to provide individualized attention, a personalized collection of books and an intimate knowledge of the books and items we sell.”

The bookstore’s opening is just the first part of the vision for The Book Jewel. A cafe, Tomat, is scheduled to open in 2021 and will be run by

Dial’s daughter, Natalie, and her partner, Harry Posner. The two share a passion for food and have backgrounds in health. Menu items like house-made pastries, breads, ferments, local beer and wine, as well as an excellent selection of coffee are planned. The Book Jewel will also eventually feature a rooftop deck and an event space with a demonstration kitchen.

Once gatherings are allowed again, expect book signings, cooking demos, book club meetings and special events, said Moor. In the meantime, community members can sign up for the Mandala Book Club and participate in conversations about the book of the month over Zoom. The selection for September is “Caste” by Isabel Wilkerson, which can be purchased at the store.

“We see The Book Jewel as a gift to the community, and we look forward to being a place of connection and a place of togetherness,” said Moor.

“People unite through books, ideas, art, music and the written word.

It’s the sort of things that make a community pull together, and bookstores play a special role in that.”

The Book Jewel is located at 6259 W. 87th St. in Westchester and is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Visit thebookjewel.com to sign up for their newsletter and join the book club.

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

September 2020 • Page 5

The Wessely family poses in front of their Westchester home.

Everyone’s business could use a little help these days, so every month we’re featuring companies owned by local residents or located in Westchester/Playa to help promote shopping locally and supporting community members.

Here’s the scoop on Super Pop Snacks, owned by Westchester resident and entrepreneur, Melissa Wessely. Her tasty all-natural snacks were recently named a top protein bar pick by Good Housekeeping.

Q. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. A. I am Melissa Wessely, the founder and creator of Super Pop Snacks, a family-run health food brand in Westchester. I am also a wife and mother to two little girls, ages 2 and 10! I grew up in Agoura Hills and went to UCSB for college. Before Super Pop, I had a career in operations and public relations. I took that past experience to ultimately help me build Super Pop. We have lived in Westchester for more than 15 years, and my husband Jeremy went to Loyola Marymount.

In 2015, I wasn’t satisfied with any of the current on-the-go options for my family. As a mom working full time, I understood the daily juggle of family and work. I felt like our nutrition was lacking. I realized that our family diet could use some help. Both my husband and I are former athletes, so nutrition was very important to us. I worked on the recipe for about six to eight months and came up with our nut butter crispy bars.

While working full time, I started making the bars in our tiny apartment’s kitchen, and then would bake them at night in a bakery after Page 6 • September 2020

Business spotlight:

Westchester entrepreneur works to create best possible snack bar work. I taught myself photoshop to make the packaging labels and sourced all the ingredients. It started out as a hobby, but then my entrepreneurial spirit kicked in!

My husband and I ran a booth at the local farmers’ market and started to get into local health food stores.

We loved being at the farmers’ market because that is where families congregate, and we loved seeing their reactions when they tasted our snacks.

Word spread, and we started to get into more stores, coffee shops and juice bars. With a lot of hard work and wearing multiple hats–sales, operations, marketing and shipping– our bars are now nationwide!

Q. Please tell us a little bit about your business? A. We make nutrient dense, clean, all-natural nut butter bars that have an authentic crispy, creamy texture that everyone can enjoy! They are free of gluten, soy, dairy, refined sugar, sugar alcohols and fiber syrup. They also taste amazingly delicious.

There are many bars on the market that are low sugar, high fiber, keto, paleo, etc., but I have yet to find a bar that matches our taste and texture.

I am proud that we have stuck with our values of using real food and never use artificial ingredients or

succumbed to some of the “fad” diets out there.

We work very hard to create and produce the best possible snack bar for you and your family. I oversee every bar production to ensure you will be receiving high-quality snacks.

Sometimes that means waking up at 3 a.m. to get into the bakery!

Q. What do you like about running your business and being an entrepreneur? A. I love the freedom of being my own boss and also being able to make my own hours. Most importantly, I love having a product that people truly enjoy and consume every day. I get emails from our customers just reaching out to say how much they love the bars and that truly puts a big smile on my face. Running a business is also very stressful because you “are” the business so there isn’t really any downtime. But as a type-A person, I kind of thrive on pressure and always want to make sure we are producing the best product possible and taking care of our customers.

Q. How has COVID impacted your business? A. It has impacted our business a lot. Before COVID, we were selling to outlets like hotels, coffee shops, juice bars and gyms, which ultimately were closed for months.

We lost almost 90 percent of our wholesale business. We had to pivot quickly and push our online business, which is our website, and Amazon to stay afloat. We were planning on launching some new products, but that has been put on hold until we can get through this pandemic.

Also, as a mom to two young children, the juggle of parenthood, especially distance learning and working from home, has been difficult. With no daycare or inperson school, trying to get work done has been extra hard while trying to entertain and take care of the kids.

My backyard has turned into my new office.

During this time though, we have had the opportunity to help our community by donating our nutritious snack bars to hospitals, homeless shelters and food banks. Our goal has always been to help feed a healthier future, and it is important that we do what we can to help feed those in need and on the front lines.

Q. What else would you like the community to know about your business? A. We would love for people to follow us on our social channels @superpopsnacks and if you have any questions or want to learn more, feel free to email us at info@ superpopsnacks.com.

Q. What are some of your favorite local businesses? A. We love Cafe Solar, Truxton’s, Playa Pharmacy (the best!), the farmers’ markets and Good Pizza. Support local!

Visit superpopsnacks.com for more info.

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

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

September 2020 • Page 7

Photo by Glenn Marzano.

Community members enjoy the band and beer garden at last year’s WAM Block Party on Emerson Ave. This year’s event will include a weekend of activities starting September 11.

WAM Weekend is on! Albeit remixed for a special 2020 edition that changes the event’s block party vibe to a house party one.

The Westchester Arts & Music Block Party, affectionately referred to as WAM, is usually a day-long celebration of community, art and live music that brings thousands of people to Emerson Ave. to enjoy the last days of summer.

This year marks the popular event’s fifth anniversary, and WAM has really hit its stride, says event producer, John Sharpe.

“We had a great turnout, had expanded to two stages for music and entertainment and the support from the community and businesses was unreal,” said Sharpe. “We were just about to start planning this year’s event and brainstorming on how to take it to the next level, when COVID appeared.”

In late spring, the committee felt it had no choice but to cancel WAM, which benefits the Emerson Avenue Community Garden. They were unsure if businesses would be in a position to sponsor the festivities or how Safer at Home orders would impact the feasibility of people gathering to watch bands, line up at food trucks and visit community booths offering art activities. In late June, however, the committee had a change of heart and decided to move forward with WAM, although “remixed” for this unusual year.

“I don’t think any of us thought we’d be dealing with this for so long,” said Sharpe. “As the months have dragged on, and we’re all largely stuck in our homes with limited opportunities for entertainment and looking for activities for our families, it became apparent to us that we should help fill the void and make WAM something that people could look forward to from Page 8 • September 2020

home.”

The committee decided to host a WAM Weekend, which brings some of WAM’s most popular elements–performances, family-friendly fun, supporting artists and good food and drinks–to people’s living rooms and front yards.

WAM Weekend will kick off Friday, September 11 at 6 p.m. with Friday Night Live, a one-hour concert streamed via Instagram @wamblockparty, featuring the Folk/ Americana sounds of husband and wife duo, Pilgrim Life. During the pandemic, WAM has been hosting these virtual concerts weekly to offer musicians an outlet and a chance to make tips, as well as give music-lovers some new tunes to check out. Following the concert, those 21-and-over can host their own personal wine garden from their home with a virtual Wine Tasting at 7 p.m. Kits with three bottles–a Pinot

Noir, Viognier and a Rose of Grenache–provided by Sweetzer Cellars, which usually provides the drinks at WAM, will be available for $70 each (plus tax). A portion of the proceeds will benefit the garden and the kits will be hand-delivered at no charge to those that sign up to participate by Wednesday, September 9 at wamblockparty.org/winetasting.

Saturday, September 12 through Sunday, September 13 at 5 p.m. WAM festivities will move from a virtual experience to “about town,” as the community is invited to play an “I Spy Art Treasure Hunt.” Check out wamblockparty.org/treasure-hunt for the cross streets and clues to find 20 pieces of art printed on lawn signs throughout Westchester. Grab the whole family for a leisurely bike ride through the neighborhood to find the art, and when you do, take a selfie or photo in front

of it. If you find all 20 pieces by the deadline, either post on social media, tagging @WAMBlockParty and using the hashtag #WAM2020ART or email your photos to wamblockparty@gmail. com to be entered into a random drawing to win a $500 cash prize (limited to one entry per family). The winner will be drawn live on WAM’s Facebook page. To get an early start on mapping out your route, clues for the treasure hunt will be made available on wamblockparty.org starting on Wednesday, September 9 at noon.

“We envision all the families that usually attend WAM to show up in full force on their bikes, scooters, skateboards or walking around town to play the game and make a memorable weekend,” said Sharpe. “The cash prize and a little friendly competition between neighbors also add to the fun.”

(continued on page 10)

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

Roth IRAs are generally considered among the most attractive retirement savings vehicles because the growth is tax-free, which after several years, can provide substantial tax savings, especially if you think tax rates could go up in the future.

There are limitations on contributions to a Roth IRA depending on your income; your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) must be under $139,000 (or $206,000 if you’re filing jointly) in order to contribute.

Another way to take advantage of the Roth IRA is to move money from a traditional IRA or workplace savings plan to a Roth IRA. These are referred to as Roth IRA conversions. There is no income limitations on a Roth conversion but there are important considerations. Here’s what you should know: A taxable transaction The key factor affecting the decision is the tax impact. A traditional IRA is generally pre-tax and therefore conversion to a Roth IRA are taxed at ordinary income tax rates. If after-tax contributions funded a traditional IRA, only the portion of the distribution attributable to investment earnings is taxable.

With a Roth IRA, all contributions occur on an after-tax basis. If holding period requirements are met, all distributions can be received on a tax-free basis.

Moving money from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA is a taxable event at the time of the conversion. If all contributions to the traditional IRA were made on a pre-tax basis, the entire value of the converted amount is added to your ordinary income for the year and subject to tax at applicable rates.

The timing may be right Another consideration relates to the future of tax rates in America. Current income tax rates are near their lowest levels in recent history. There is concern that due to skyrocketing federal debt (much of it spurred on by recent stimulus legislation related to the COVID-19 pandemic), tax rates may rise in the future. By taking the tax hit at this time when you convert funds to a Roth IRA, you may ultimately pay less in tax on your IRA than if you waited to take distributions later, assuming tax rates are higher.

Roth conversions can be a very effective tool both in terms of tax management and in helping generate greater after-tax cash flow in retirement. But the process can be complex. Be sure to consult with your financial advisor and tax advisor for more guidance.

Make tax-smart conversion decisions If we assume you converted $100,000 and your tax rate is 24%, your tax liability is $24,000. This should be paid from other assets.

You don’t have to convert all of your IRA assets at one time. By doing this over several years, you can spread out the tax impact. Since income is taxed on a progressive scale, you may want to convert an amount that will stay within your current tax bracket. For example, a married couple with taxable income of $100,000 for 2020, they will be in the 22% federal income tax bracket. That bracket is for taxable income up to $171,050.

Therefore, they could convert an additional $71,050 without any of the converted amount slipping into a higher tax bracket.

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

September 2020 • Page 9

WAM (continued) After a day of tracking down art, head to Facebook.com/ wamblockparty on Saturday, September 12 starting at 4 p.m. for WAM Remixed, a watch party featuring performances from eight different artists playing half-hour sets. The lineup pulls from some of Friday Night Live’s most popular acts including Jessie Payo, Leeann Skoda, Nico Franc and RAINNE. “We’re really excited about the entertainment we have planned,” said Sharpe. “We have a great mix of artists performing. A major part of WAM has always been about supporting artists–whether musicians or the vendors selling their handmade items–and with nowhere to perform in person this year, they can use all the help we can give them.”

On Sunday, September 13 starting at 4:30 p.m. the community is invited to join a virtual cooking class, hosted by the chefs behind Tomat, a new cafe opening next year in The Book Jewel. Tune in to learn how to create an amazing dinner using delicious veggies inspired by the Emerson Avenue Community Garden. The cost to participate is $15 and will benefit the garden. Reserve your spot for the demonstration on WAM’s website.

All weekend long, WAM arts &

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crafts vendors will also be holding an online silent auction with items like ceramics, paintings and jewelry for sale. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to WAM. “At the heart of it, WAM is really an event for everyone, where you can spend time with people you like, hear good music, buy cool art, eat good food and enjoy a few drinks,” said Sharpe. “We’re trying to replicate those experiences as close as possible, but in a 2020 setting.

We’re so thankful for the support of all of our sponsors who continued to support us this year, and are committed to seeing Westchester thrive and families have ways to have a fun weekend, even with the limits of our current situation. We hope people tune in for the concerts and track down that art!”

Major sponsors include the Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation, the Stephanie Younger Group, Zacha Homes, Westchester Rotary, SoCalGas, NCWP and Nanci Edwards. The HomeTown News is also a proud sponsor of this event.

WAM Weekend will take place from Friday, September 11 at 6 p.m. through Sunday, September 13 at 5 p.m. For more information, please visit wamblockparty.org.

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

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

September 2020 • Page 11

A new school year, with a new approach

By Nick Melvoin, LAUSD Board Member The Los Angeles Unified School District has welcomed our families back to school, but it is a new year unlike any other as students logged on to learn from home. In the face of this year’s nearly impossible challenges, we have rolled out unprecedented new efforts to meet the needs of the students and families I represent on the Board of Education, while also working to safely reopen schools as soon as possible.

After hearing feedback from families about the emergency transition to distance learning in March, I pushed for a plan that would ensure this year’s instruction will be more rigorous and equitable than last spring. L.A. Unified recently reached an agreement with our teachers that requires daily, synchronous or real-time instruction; built-in time in a smaller group setting to personalize learning; and provides social-emotional support, consistent schedules, clear and articulated time to support English Learners and students with disabilities; as well as attendance tracking to make sure we are reaching all our students. Administrators will be able to supervise and observe virtual

Westchester Community of Schools launches.

Westchester’s Jennifer TheodoreSullivan was recently named as the Westchester Community of Schools Administrator for LAUSD’s Local District West. Theodore-Sullivan has 28 years of experience in education and served as the principal of Playa del Rey’s Paseo del Rey Natural Science Magnet for 18 years. She also serves as Vice President of the LAX Coastal Education Foundation.

In her new role, she will help support local schools, which include Cowan Elementary, Katherine Johnson STEM Academy, Kentwood Elementary, Loyola Village Fine and Performing Arts Magnet, Open Magnet Charter Elementary, Paseo del Rey Natural Science Magnet, Playa Vista Elementary, Westchester Enriched Page 12 • September 2020

classrooms as needed to provide feedback as our teachers facilitate a semester of learning like we’ve never seen before.

We have also reached agreements with our other staff to help with our “all hands on deck” approach, with substitutes and support staff filling holes and providing as much small group instructional time as possible.

Bus drivers will be calling homes and providing support for families who have difficulty connecting, campus aides will provide support for teachers to help facilitate breakout rooms and individualized attention and we are providing childcare for children of the staff who are reporting physically to school sites.

We have also developed additional supports to help support teachers and students, like specialized professional development for remote teaching, prioritized content standards and model lessons, professional development supports, a tutoring pilot and more.

As we work to keep our kids learning, we are also busily preparing for the day we can welcome them back safely. We are working to set campuses up with the equipment and supplies needed to reopen, and we have continued school improvement projects—including the chemistry

Sciences Magnet High School, Westport Heights Elementary, Window Hills/ Math/Science/Aerospace Magnet, Wright STEAM Magnet and the Kentwood Early Education Center.

“I look forward to incorporating Local District West’s vision in building capacity, cultivating school cultures and eliminating inequities,” said Theodore-Sullivan via the department’s newsletter. “Together, through collaboration, we can continue to improve the academic achievement and social-emotional learning for all of our diverse students.”

To learn more and read their newly launched newsletter, visit facebook. com/wchesterldwest.

Chamber to host State of Education.

The LAX Coastal Chamber and its Education Committee are hosting a

LAUSD School Board Member, Nick Melvoin, makes a visit to Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets to view its new chemistry lab. Here he is pictured with Jennifer Theodore-Sullivan, Westchester Community of Schools Administrator and Principal Janet Mack.

labs at Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets and the new Kentwood Early Education Center—to be ready for students to use upon their return.

L.A. Unified is also rolling out a firstof-its-kind widespread COVID-19 testing and contact tracing system for school communities.

Our Grab-and-Go meal centers have served more than 50 million meals to people in need. Our schools have distributed digital devices and hotspots to hundreds of thousands of our students to bridge the digital divide. And I brought a resolution,

which the Board passed, advocating for free childcare for district families with the hope that we can create a public “learning pod” option.

We will continue these efforts, and others, to address the challenges that come our way. This semester will not be perfect, but we will do our best to step up and support our kids and families through this crisis and prepare them to learn and thrive.

Melvoin is a former LAUSD teacher who has served on the Board of Education since July 2017. Follow him on social media at @nickmelvoin.

State of Education online event on Friday, September 11 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Join them as they dive into the topic of how today’s students, teachers and parents are navigating distance learning.

The panel discussion will be led by Dr. Darin Early from the LMU Family of Schools and will feature speakers including Nick Melvoin, LAUSD Board Member; Mary Young, LMU Dean of Education and Thom Gaspar, Assistant Superintendent for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

The State of Education will be held via Zoom and the cost to attend is $10.

For more info, visit laxcoastal.com or email christina@laxcoastal.com.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Schools encouraged to apply for STEM Grant funds.

SoCalGas and the LAX Coastal Education Foundation have partnered once again to provide local schools with STEM Grants for the 2020-2021 school year. More than $40,000 in grants are expected to be awarded to schools in the foundation’s footprint, which includes Westchester and Playa del Rey. Grant applications are due by September 11 and are scheduled to be distributed in October.

The two organizations also recently provided more than $10,000 in Distance Learning Support mini-grants to 28 local classrooms for teachers to buy items like software, document cameras and subscriptions.

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

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

of surrounding schools • Named one of America’s Top High Schools US News and World Report - 2019 Silver Medal Award 2016, 2017, 2018 • Expansive Advanced Placement course offerings • College & High School Credit from Santa Monica College and West Los Angeles College via duel enrollment courses

• School for Advanced Studies & Gate • Over 57 clubs and extra-curricular activities • Championship Sports Teams • Fine Arts programs including: Theater, Large Ensemble Orchestra, Band, Honor Choir, Steel drums, Painting & Photography • Technology, Computer Science, Coding and Game Design • Over $120,000 each year in scholarships for graduating students raised by our Gondolier Alumni

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

September 2020 • Page 13

Girl Scout Troop #16575 members Breanna M., Isabelle G., Joi T. and Kristi N. pose in front of the community’s newest Little Library.

By Lydia Smith

plaque. Right now, there are more than 100,000 registered libraries in all 50 states and 108 countries!

The sense of community in While there has been some debate Westchester has always been one over whether the libraries should be of the key reasons that people and open for sharing during the pandemic, families love to live here and take many stewards say they have seen pride in their neighborhood. It’s no an increase in traffic. With public surprise then, that over the last few libraries and schools being closed, years many residents have built or and with people looking for a literary constructed Little Free Libraries in escape, they see the benefit of being their front yards to share a book, able to provide reading material encourage reading and connect with to kids and adults. Some stewards their neighbors. For many, having are even adding items like DVDs, these local book exchanges on their magazines and food to help neighbors block has been a small beacon of in need and spread a little cheer. But light during Safer at Home, while libraries have been closed and people that doesn’t mean they aren’t being increasingly rely on their community cautious–one local steward who just recently re-opened their library to get through this challenging time. makes sure to clean and disinfect Westchester currently has 17 the handles and doors each day. It’s registered Little Free Libraries, a also advised, and neighborly, to wash public bookshelf of sorts, where your hands or to use hand sanitizer owners, termed “stewards,” can before and after visiting a library create a curated collection of reading and following all Safer at Home materials in their front yard for anyone to browse. Visitors are invited protocols. Whether a library is open or temporarily closed, has a theme to “take a book or share a book.”

Stewards can build their own libraries or includes all types of books, is decorated or standard issue, it’s clear or purchase a kit directly from the that the Little Library owners are nonprofit Little Free Library. The proud to provide this valuable service organization was started in 2009 to foster neighborhood book exchanges, in Westchester.

Check out this month’s spotlight as well as serve as an official site on stewards who love stocking their to register and map these libraries shelves with books to share with their around the world. Once a library is neighbors: registered with their organization, it • Sylvia Wilson is a new Little becomes official and a charter number Library steward and opened her book is issued, along with an engraved Page 14 • September 2020

exchange in April. She sees a definite need for her community to have access to books during quarantine since public libraries are closed.

An avid reader, Sylvia recalls that her love of books started at the age of three. When she learned about the Little Library movement from a friend, she was excited to have one of her own and is now proud to have the charter number 98,421! Collecting books has always been a hobby of hers, so she finds joy in curating the books for her library with thoughtful titles, her favorite paperbacks and kids’ books with powerful messages.

Constantly updating her selection, she has a rolling cart by her door so that she can easily rotate between books from her collection, ones that she has recently bought or ones that have been donated to share with her neighbors.

“People often leave DVDs to entertain others and food items since many of my neighbors know I volunteer with our local food bank, Grass Roots Neighbors,” said Sylvia.

“It is all around a way for people to give back during this time of need.”

• Ten-year-old Riley Faill asked for a little library for her front yard for Christmas when she was only 5. She had visited others in her neighborhood but was disappointed that many of them only had books for adult readers. Her goal was to create a library that focused only on children’s

literature.

“I feel good about it because the neighborhood needed one for kids and I did that. It’s a nice place for kids to walk to come get books,” she said.

Riley was fortunate to have a handy grandfather who helped build the library and a grandmother who gave her a “Riley’s Little Library” stamp so that she could stamp all her books.

Riley has been a faithful steward of her library for five years and still enjoys selecting books to share with local kids. Over the years, she has added a bench so visitors can sit while making their selection, and she has even befriended a fellow bookloving neighbor who also has a Little Library. Living by the motto, “take a book, share a book,” whenever someone drops off a title that doesn’t work with her kid-friendly focus, she walks it to her neighbor’s library for someone else to enjoy.

• Westchester Girl Scout Troop #16575 recently celebrated the opening of the community’s newest Little Free Library. The library, which opened on August 21, is located at Troop Leader Tiffany SmallMcKelvin’s home and has a diversity theme focusing on titles that promote the value of being different. The library was opened as part of the troop’s Silver Award service project.

More than 200 books were donated from community members to help

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

At top: Sylvia Wilson displays some of her favorite titles to share with her neighbors.

At right: Stephanie and Kelly Younger pose with their well-stocked library.

stock the location, and each member of the troop donated two selections as well.

“When I spoke with the other Girl Scouts, we all agreed that having more diverse books would make it more normal and acceptable to be unique and different and make people who are unique feel more included,” said 13-year-old troop member Breanna.

As part of their service hours that are required for the Silver Award, the Scouts also took time to educate themselves on how books can help teach empathy.

• The Younger family are veterans of the book-sharing scene. They had a Little Library 12 years ago at their first house in Westchester, so when they moved a few blocks away, it was one of the first things that they put up in the yard. As a writer and English professor at LMU, books have always been very important to Kelly Younger and his family. The Youngers were always exchanging books with friends, so they decided that exchanging books with neighbors was a natural next step and a way to make friends

in the community. Their library covers all genres of books, from children’s literature to the classics, old and new titles and everything in between. They like to keep their library well-stocked, and Kelly enjoys discovering what books people have left in his library. He also loves to look for handwritten notes and inscriptions in the pages of the novels that line the shelf, which give an insight into previous readers’ thoughts on the text.

“Every book tells a story,” he says.

“In my opinion, there are two kinds of books: ones that are mirrors– helping us see ourselves more clearly, more deeply; or ones that are windows–helping us see the world through someone else’s eyes, someone else’s life which may be very different from our own.

And if our Little Library provides a chance at either one of those experiences, then our community will be all the better for it.”

Learn more about how you can start your own Little Library or the locations of these neighborhood book exchanges, including the ones featured here, at littlefreelibrary. org. Stayed tuned for Part 2 of this series in an upcoming edition.

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

September 2020 • Page 15

Lynwood and North Valley, teams that they defeated in the regular season.

While the Blue Jets were eager for soccer to resume and the tournament to be rescheduled for sometime this summer, unfortunately that didn’t happen.

The Blue Jets earned the right to represent Section 1 (which is comprised of teams from Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties) in the four team tournament after defeating Rancho Cucamonga in the section semifinals and South Redondo Beach in the section finals.

The team finished the season with a 39-6-4 record and captured tournament titles at the Hawthorne Holiday Smash Tournament and the Long Beach Classic.

The team also captured the Section West The Westchester Blue Jets are Maximus Lockett, Elias-Micah Matthews, Chris Donell, Matthew Championship with victories over PacifDombrowski, Jack Milligan, Cayden Washington, Coach Harvey Galvan, Jacob Burns, Max Abroms, Micah Smith, Niklas Thomas-Baumann, Bradley Cassier, Dasian Galvan, Brogan Comer ic Palisades and South Redondo Beach. and Coach Robert Milligan.

Photo taken pre-COVID. The team had several impressive victories over local club and All-star teams from Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica, Lynwood and Walnut, as well.

The Blue Jets formed in August 2018 and represented AYSO Region 7 which consists of players from Westchester, Playa Vista, Playa Del Rey, Inglewood, Congratulations to the Westchester the Western States Championship in Ladera Heights, Marina del Rey and Mar Blue Jets, who advanced to the Western 2019.

Vista. The team competed in the AYSO States AYSO soccer championship for The Blue Jets competed in the U-12 the second consecutive season earlier AYSO Extra boys division for the 2019- Extra Program, which provides a more this year.

2020 season and earned a return trip to competitive and progressive soccer exThe Western States Championship the four-state championship tournament perience from the core program.

“The boys had a goal to repeat as brings together the top AYSO teams in Bullhead, Arizona. Unfortunately, champions.

As the defending champion, from California, Nevada, Oregon and the tournament was canceled two the boys had a target on their back all Washington for a tournament to condays before the event due to COVID. season and faced some adversity,” said clude the season. The Blue Jets captured The Blue Jets were scheduled to face

Westchester Blue Jets hope for another state championship

Page 16 • September 2020

Coach Robert Milligan. “After some early hiccups, the boys came together and really peaked by the time the playoffs came along. After a season that stretched seven months and after two seasons together, they were not going to be denied with their goal in reach. It is unfortunate that the pandemic interrupted their run, but I have no doubt that they would have captured the championship.

They showed tremendous resilience and dedication throughout. They believed in themselves even when no one else did and have championship hearts.”

“Nothing was going to hold back this team once they decided that they really wanted it,” said Coach Harvey Galvan.

“You could see in their eyes that they were ready to complete a feat that no team in our Region has ever accomplished. When everything was on the line, they stepped up and showed that they are champions. We are very proud of the boys. The Blue Jets are a family and we have lifelong memories of fun, hard work and success. In my book, we are the back-to-back Western State champions, since we were never dethroned.”

Region 7’s fall season is presently postponed due to COVID-19, but the Blue Jets hope to participate in the Extra Program in the late fall/ spring and compete for a Western States championship next year. In the meantime, AYSO is preparing for non-contact clinics this fall.

Visit ayso.bluesombrero.com/region7 for more info.

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

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

September 2020 • Page 17

Page 18 • September 2020

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

For 15 years.

By Consuelo Israelson The quarantine during the pandemic hasn’t been a mixed blessing for the Tuttle family, it’s been a total blessing.

“It’s been wonderful for us because we were able to put a ‘pause’ on life. We were very much a sports family prior to this and our weekends used to be wrapped around sports and the kids’ games. So it’s been nice to slow down and remember what a great spot we live in,” said Heather Tuttle.

The Tuttle family is now finding time to volunteer in the community, play together and discover new hobbies.

Most recently, Heather was working part-time as an instructional coach for Catapult Learning, helping teachers implement professional goals.

Husband Ryan is an Executive Director of Financial Systems for Fox. His office used to be in Playa Vista, but now it’s in the family’s garage. He plans on working from home at least until the beginning of next year.

Their three boys, Tyler, 11, Brody, 8, and Logan, 5, are having no trouble keeping themselves busy. Tyler is in sixth grade at Dana Middle School and has fine tuned his chess game during Safer at Home. An avid reader, he graduated to adult fiction and is reading “The Hunt for Red October.”

His baseball travel team, SoCal Truth, recently started up a very strange looking season, full of masks, social distancing and lots of hand sanitizer!

Ryan was in the middle of his first season as manager for Tyler’s DRALL team, the Major A’s, before the season was cut short by the quarantine.

Brody, who as her middle child Heather describes as the “filling of her Oreo,” is in second grade at Juan Cabrillo Elementary School. He enjoys spending time taking care of the class guinea pig, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, who became an honorary member of the Tuttle family when school closed.

Logan, in kindergarten at Juan Cabrillo, is great at keeping himself entertained and as his brother Tyler says, “He’s got an active imagination!”

He loves collecting the mail and distributing it and working with his brother, Brody, to maintain the family’s yard.

The boys have also been spending their days volunteering with local nonprofits. They make at least 10 cards weekly for Westside Pacific Villages to pass out to homebound seniors in their

Friday Care Packages. On Tuesdays, Heather takes one of the boys to help with Grass Roots Neighbors (GRN).

There they help pack two weeks’ worth of groceries for families in need.

“This has been a great thing for my kids to be a part of,” said Heather, who serves as a block captain for collecting donations for GRN. “We can make a difference and help others and it helps the boys remember how blessed we are.”

Another hobby the Tuttles have discovered during this time is looking for treasure with a metal detector.

“The airport is right behind us so there’s a big empty field for them to search. There are relics from when there were homes there in the 70s.

Buried treasure is really fun,” says Heather.

Riding bikes has also become a way of life for the Tuttles and now everyone has their own.

“We used to drive to places that are two miles away, but now we bike to the beach, bike to breakfast—it’s been great.

And now that the boys are older and in Scouts, hiking has really taken off,” Heather said.

She is den leader for her two younger boys, who are part of Cub Scout Pack 748 out of Westchester. They recently were able to participate in a virtual Pinewood Derby.

Heather, who grew up in Minnesota, never expected to find a piece of home in Southern California when, fresh out of college, she accepted a teaching position in Huntington Park through Teach for America. Although she studied broadcast journalism and communications at the University of Missouri, she realized teaching was her passion when she heard about the program, which sends educators to low-income schools throughout the country. She ended up with a life-changing assignment teaching seventh and eighth grade language arts at Nimitz Middle School, while she was also getting her master’s degree and a teaching credential through Loyola Marymount University.

“My two-year teaching commitment has now stretched to 17 years!” she said.

“I had every intention of going back to Minnesota, but I found my little niche here.”

A few months after moving across the country, Heather was living in Redondo Beach when her roommate invited her to a party in Playa del Rey. She had to be coaxed, and they didn’t arrive at the

gathering until 10:30 p.m.

“Lo and behold, my future husband was in the kitchen,” she said.

Ryan, who grew up in Simi Valley, was living in the Valley and it was love at first sight: with each other, as well as the neighborhood.

Two years later, Ryan bought a condo in Playa del Rey in the same neighborhood where they met and after they got married and wanted a bigger home, they found the perfect house—on the same street.

“When we started looking for a house, we still weren’t married to the idea of staying in the area, but we kept coming back here, to our street. In hindsight, I think part of it was that we have these wonderful trees that change colors in the fall, like in Minnesota,” Heather said.

Bit by bit, as their family grew, the Tuttles became more entrenched in the community. Combining her love of education, civic responsibility and giving back, Heather was elected as Director of District 4 for the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/ Playa in 2016. She recently became the chair of the council’s Education Committee. Stemming from her passion for her community and education, Heather is also proud to have helped establish a female empowerment book club for middle school girls.

“I started making connections with other families and really started experiencing the community,” she said. “As we began stepping out into the community in different ways, we have grown to love it so much. Just like the neighborhood I grew up in, there is a lineage here.

Generations going to the same schools, staying in the same community. It never occurred to me that there was any place like that in Southern California. Everyone is connected here. That’s the beauty of this town, everywhere you go, there’s someone you know.”

As things hopefully start to reopen and the Tuttles are able to enjoy some of their pre-COVID activities, the family is especially looking forward to traveling again. Ryan is a member of the United States Lighthouse Society, which has the family road-tripping all over the country and so far they have visited more than 100 lighthouses and 30 states.

But for now, it’s all about quality time at home and finding joy in the little things that bring family and community together.

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

We would wake up early and ride bikes down to the beach. Then, we’d do a quick breakfast at Café Milan.

After filling up, we’d hit up surfing and playing baseball at DRALL’s beach baseball field. We would stop to get smoothies from Senor G’s on our ride back, play some games and set up a family movie night in the backyard. We’d eat Benny’s Tacos while watching the movie. Now we can’t wait to make this day a reality!

I don’t remember the community being as family-friendly when we moved in as it is now. I think this town has become a haven for young families. People didn’t used to hang around Westchester on the weekends, now they do. People are starting to view this town as their home and taking pride in it. We have restaurants, friends and plenty of activities nearby so we don’t need to go out of the area for these things. People are taking pride in the community because it is so versatile, family-friendly and diverse.

A massive shout-out to the village of moms and the Facebook group, Parenting in Westchester, PDR and PV. We couldn’t be effective parents without them. We look out for one another and have each other’s backs.

They make this journey of parenting so much easier and do-able. We are so grateful for that. A shout-out to the Westside activist moms also, who are taking a giant leap to make lasting change for our children and our community, and are being fabulous examples to all our kids and other community members. I’d also like to add a shout-out to educators. As a former teacher, I know the time, energy and effort that goes into teaching under typical circumstances.

Teaching during this pandemic has brought a whole new light to a teacher’s passion and unwavering dedication to their students. This is so far from what they initially signed up for, yet they’re doing it anyway, with enthusiasm and a smile. They’ve adapted their craft, thought outside the box, and continue to deliver for students. I am incredibly impressed and forever grateful for each of them.

September 2020 • Page 19

Westchester/Playa Historical Society: The evolution of voting rights in America

By Cozette Vergari In 1789, the U.S. Constitution granted each state the power to establish voting rights. States generally limited the right to vote to property-owning or tax-paying white men. At the time, this amounted to approximately only six percent of the population.

During the periods of Jeffersonian and Jacksonian democracy, circa 1792-1856, most states abolished the property owner qualification. Most older states dropped them by the mid1820s. No new states had property qualifications, although a few adopted tax-paying qualifications.

By the end of the 1820s, attitudes and state laws had shifted in favor of universal white male suffrage. The 1828 presidential election was the first in which non-property-holding white men had the right to vote in the vast majority of states.

In the presidential election of 1820, there were 108,359 ballots cast. Voter turnout soared during the 1830s, reaching approximately 80 percent of the adult white male population.

During the presidential election of 1840, 2,412,694 ballots were

cast. Subsequent reform included a significant property requirement for any resident born outside of the United States. The last state to abolish property qualification was North Carolina in 1856, resulting in a close approximation to universal white male suffrage. However, tax-paying qualifications remained in a few states.

The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1868 guaranteed citizenship to all males born or naturalized in the United States. Two years later, the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution prevented states from denying voting rights on grounds of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude,” noting gender was not included as a protected right to vote.

Former Confederate states passed laws and amendments to effectively disfranchise black and poor white voters through poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clauses and other restrictions. During this period, the Supreme Court generally upheld state efforts to discriminate against racial minorities. Black males in the northern states could vote, but the majority of African Americans lived

in the South.

The passage of the Dawes Act, in 1887, granted citizenship to Native Americans if they were willing to disassociate themselves from their tribe, technically giving them the right to vote. All Native Americans were granted citizenship and the right to vote in 1924 through the Indian Citizenship Act regardless of tribal affiliation. Some western states continued to bar Native Americans from voting until 1948.

Women were not given the right to vote until 1920, with the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Last month, the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment was celebrated. In practice, the same restrictions that hindered the ability of non-white men to vote now also applied to non-white women. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 has been applied to correct discriminatory election policies. In 1966, the U.S. Supreme Court held that tax payments and wealth requirements for voting in state elections are prohibited.

The passage of the Twenty-sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, in 1971, afforded adults aged 18 through 21 the right to vote. It was enacted in response to Vietnam War protests, arguing that soldiers old enough to fight for their country should be granted the right to vote.

This year will be another historic

year for voting because California is mailing every active registered voter a ballot for the November 3rd election.

Vote by mail ballots will be mailed 29 days before election day, so start checking your mailbox on October 5. L.A. County has also recently announced that at least 300 ballot boxes throughout LA County would be available for people that want to drop off their ballots, to provide another option besides mailing them.

In-person voting will take place, as well. For more information, to check your voter status and to view a list of vote by mail ballot drop-off locations, visit lavote.net.

Cozette is an attorney and lifelong resident of Westchester. She is the President of the Westchester/Playa Historical Society. Together with a group of dedicated volunteers, the organization is working on creating new programming and events to celebrate the history of the area and engage the community in preserving it for future generations.

Editor’s note: In last month’s article, the Westchester/Playa Historical Society was referred to as being reestablished. The Westchester/Playa Historical Society is a new entity, legally receiving recognition from the State of California in December of 2019 and receiving 501(c)(3) status as a public charity in June of 2020 from the IRS. Though respectful of the Westchester Playa del Rey Historical Society, which is no longer active, Westchester/Playa Historical Society is a different and separate organization.

As COVID-19 continues to provide challenges to our business community, the LAX Coastal Chamber is committed to help.

We are encouraging everyone to “Share the Chamber Love” this September by offering FREE virtual programming.

Go to laxcoastal.com and use promo code CHAMBERLOVE to get complimentary admission to several of our upcoming events. Learn why over 600 businesses support the Chamber and connect with us this September.

www.laxcoastal.com Page 20 • September 2020

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

LMU wishes all students and parents a successful fall semester. Together, we can overcome any obstacle. #LMUTogether Next LMU Neighborhood Advisory Committee Meeting

Oct. 7 | 6:30 p.m. on Zoom Register for the meeting and view the agenda at https://community.lmu.edu/NACmeeting.

If you do not have access to a computer or Zoom, you can call into the meeting at 669.900.6833. Meeting ID: 987 2728 8333

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

September 2020 • Page 21

Random Notes/Opinion

How to make fitness work over a lifetime

By Jeff Blair

Opinion: Remember when you were a kid and your mom asked you, “If everyone else jumped off a bridge, does that mean you should, too?” I view health and fitness in the same way.

Rather than follow the crowd, consider creating a personal fitness journey.

Needs might change over the decades, but it is never too late to benefit from a fitness program. Adopt the following strategies to enjoy a richer, more satisfying and happier life.

In your 20s: Physical activity usually reduces dramatically from childhood and teen years. Most transition into a career and some start a family. The average woman gains 12 pounds and the average man gains nine pounds.

How to fix it: Going from the relative flexibility of youth to the “real world” can be shocking. Two days of strength training and two days of cardio will create an amazing foundation for life.

Find some cardiovascular activity you enjoy or at least do not hate.

Developing healthy habits in your 20s is strongly associated with lower risk of heart attacks in middle age, according to a 2012 Northwestern University study. Avoid deprivation and yo-yo diets.

In your 30s: Muscle and strength loss becomes noticeable. Metabolism begins to slow and this can lead to steady weight gain.

How to fix it: Many people come to a personal crossroads around 30-yearsold. Reflect on what you want from life relative to health and fitness. Establishing exercise habit consistency should be your number one priority. Good nutritional habits are also key. Understand your 16-year-old self’s fitness ideas might not work when you have a busy job and family. Be flexible and play the long game relative to your fitness goals.

In your 40s: Many people are very busy with work and family. Stress can be a big challenge. Exercise and fitness might get pushed aside and quality of life might decrease. Health metrics such as blood pressure and cholesterol might require medical attention. People often begin to feel joint pain.

How to fix it: Losing weight is hard, but don’t throw in the towel if you struggle in that area. Strength is more important than body weight for health, according to a 2017 British study of 400,000 people over 40. Even if the scale number isn’t ideal, maintaining strength through weight-lifting dramatically improves health. Consistent

cardiovascular workouts can improve heart health and manage stress.

In your 50s: 50 is the age when strength becomes crucial to daily function. Many people have been slowly losing muscle for several decades while gaining weight. Joint pain becomes common. Bone health also becomes key as bones weaken after 50. Consuming adequate protein becomes a bigger issue as the average person loses 30 percent of muscle power between 50 and 70.

How to fix it: Weight training can be a key to strong muscles, healthy bones and an active lifestyle after 50.

Realize the fitness decisions you make will dramatically impact the quality of the rest of your life. Find two to three hours per week to exercise and your body and mind will love you for it.

In your 60s: Disease often kicks in during this decade. Most serious disease is the result of lack of exercise, poor nutrition and smoking from previous decades. In other words, change your behavior early and you can change your life.

How to fix it: The human body is still highly responsive to strength training.

Maintaining strength means you can hike, travel and greatly enjoy life. If you previously established consistent

TheHTN.com

exercise habits, continue. Everyone I know who has stopped told me later it was a huge mistake. Very strongly consider establishing an exercise routine if you have not done so.

In your 70s and up: Strength and muscle loss can make casual exercise challenging. Cognitive decline may be an issue. Protein consumption drops for most. Staying mobile and active becomes a greater priority than weight loss.

How to fix it: Maintaining muscle and bone density allow freedom and mobility. While starting young is always good, beginning during your 70s can open the door to a new and better life. Exercise can even improve cognitive function. Whether your goal is simply to maintain normal daily activity or pursue travel and adventure, your fitness level will largely dictate your options.

Jeff Blair (MS, CSCS) is a Certified Personal Trainer, Fitness Author and longtime Westchester resident. He has been featured in numerous fitness magazines and served on the Advisory Board for Men’s Fitness magazine.

Contact him at jeff@socalsport.com and say hi! *Before you start any fitness routine, please consult your doctor.

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 22 • September 2020

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

Using your coping skills will increase your functioning

By Fay Craton Opinion: Are you feeling off-kilter?

For many of us, 2020 has been a year of constantly being thrown off balance. This year, we have all experienced many health and economic challenges ranging from coping with the COVID-19 pandemic to divergent political views to a long overdue high media exposure of racist behaviors.

It may seem as if as soon as you gain some stability, there is another assault on your senses. These may include: • Another challenge to living a “normal” life.

• Witnessing behaviors which confound your sense of appropriate behavior from one human to another human.

• Exposure to someone attempting to instigate polarizing debates and ill feelings.

• Being around people who have no regard as to how their actions impact

others.

It seems as if the challenges of 2020 are never ending. The constant disruption increases anger, stress, anxiety and depression. You are not alone if your ability to function has decreased.

I know many of you are using your coping skills to contend with the numerous situations leading to feeling off-kilter, but the ability to keep moving forward may still be fraying.

If you are not using your skills, let’s review a few of the basics: • Use yoga breathing. When you are stressed it becomes harder to think. When you fill your lungs and abdomen with air, oxygen goes directly to your brain, which helps clear your thinking. A long, slow exhales generates natural calming hormones within your body.

• Get exercise and plenty of sleep.

• Eat nutritiously.

• Seek out reasons to be grateful.

• Do not misuse substances.

• Maintain a daily practice of compassion and kindness.

Beyond the basics, coping also includes recognizing and accepting what is currently possible. For example, large meetings and gatherings are not possible right now.

Acceptance of this fact will increase your ability to function. Becoming angry over it will not change the fact, but the anger will have a negative impact on your mental and physical health. The current conditions of 2020 have resulted in many situations where what we want and what is unfolding may not be the same.

Resenting the situation will make you bitter and could lead to actions which damage relationships.

An advanced coping skill is to see the changes happening now in your life as an opportunity to redefine what is important to you and your life goals. Changes often create opportunities for new possibilities.

For example, some families are

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

appreciating the closeness and opportunity for companionship resulting from the COVID-19 Safer at Home policies. Now is a good time to consider where you may wish to change direction to experience a more satisfying life.

My wish is for you to function well despite the many challenges we are all experiencing this year. I know you have qualities which are needed right now in your family and your community. Caring for yourself will make it easier for you to be present for the most important people in your life.

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.

September 2020 • Page 23

ABCs of nutrition for back to school

By Sheri Weitz, RDN, CDE, Contributing Columnist

Opinion: It’s time for your kids to go back to school! OK… so they’re probably still in your house, but Zooming math or English on the computer instead of playing games or checking out Tik Tok videos. How can you feed your kids the right foods and keep them focused during this era of “Zoom School?” This two-part series will examine some nutrition basics for kids and how you can be a good role model for your children. Class is in session!

Breakfast for Brainiacs: Yes, it’s true that eating before school will help your child perform better. Without having to deal with carpool, perhaps this will leave you a little more time to prepare breakfast. While it’s optimal for kids to eat in the morning, if they’re prone to pandemic sleep-ins, then breakfast is the one meal that’s OK to serve while they’re in front of the computer.

Granted, it’s best to eat all meals at the table and not while staring at a screen, but when it comes to breakfast and the whole “sleeping late” issue, breakfast takes priority.

Some breakfast guidelines include providing a source of plant or animal protein, such as eggs or plant-based egg substitute, peanut butter, chicken or veggie sausage, etc. Protein has been proven to increase alertness. A high-carbohydrate meal low in protein can lead to sleepiness during school

little less than half their body weight in ounces of water per day.

Lunchtime Lessons: Lesson number one: eat lunch! The midday meal is truly an important one, not only due to the prevalence of late afternoon energy time.

Try to avoid sugary breakfast cereals. slumps, but also because evidence shows a missed lunch will often lead Up to 8 grams of sugar per serving (2 to overeating at dinner, or unhealthy teaspoons) is considered acceptable. late afternoon grazing on junk food.

Check oatmeal for sugar content; inLunch should follow the plate method: stant oatmeal especially can contain a lot of added sugar. Nutrition labels have half a plate of non-starchy vegetables, a quarter plate of whole grains or starchy recently been updated and now list vegetables such as potatoes and a “added sugar” as a separate item. The quarter plate of protein, either animal American Heart Association recommends no more than 25 grams of added or plant based. If your kid hates veggies, there are many tactics which can prove sugar per day (about 6 teaspoons) for helpful and I’ll be covering those in children. You can see how a bowl of sweet breakfast cereal could contribute part two. Serving cut-up raw vegetables half or more of the day’s sugar content. with organic ranch dip prior to lunch or dinner can get your child eating them Choose whole-grain breads over white, refined breads, muffins or bagels. while he or she is hungriest.

Snacks for Studiousness: Whether Those Thomas’ English Muffins may mid-morning or in the afternoon, a have those cute little nooks and cransnack can help kids keep their focus. nies, but that’s about all they have going Stick to low-sugar options, and try to for them. Whole grains are more slowly include a little protein.

Fun snacks such converted into glucose, or blood sugar, as “Ants on a Log” (celery with peanut than “white carbs,” and therefore your butter and raisins) or sliced apples child won’t be as likely to get a low with string cheese provide a colorful, blood sugar crash after an hour or so. nutritious mini-meal.

You might also Every brain needs a surprisingly high consider a handful of nuts and a piece amount of glucose for higher reasoning of fruit, or a string cheese. Sweets are and especially young, growing brains.

If you serve juice with breakfast, limit all right in moderation, but they can lead to a sugar high followed by an the portion to 4 ounces. Try serving energy crash. a piece of fresh fruit for whole-food Encourage kids to get outside for a fiber. In general, limit your child’s juice quick physical activity like throwing a intake to one or two 4-ounce servings basketball or playing handball before per day, according to the American or after eating the snack to get some Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. Enmovement in before school goes back courage water instead of juice and set a in session. good example by drinking lots of water Stay tuned for part two next month yourself. Most people should drink a

Weitz is a local dietitian and enjoys teaching Zumba at local spots.

as we cover tips for getting kids to eat more nutritiously and also techniques to encourage healthy eating habits.

Remember, our kids mostly learn how to eat by watching us, so try to be a good role model. Movement is part of a healthy lifestyle and will improve school performance. Try and make time to exercise as a family every day.

Until next time, enjoy recess!

Sheri Weitz, RDN, CDE is a Registered Dietitian with a private practice in Westchester, and she provides clinical nutrition services for Manchester Medical. Sheri also teaches Zumba classes… her “happy pill.” To find out more about her services or for a free consultation, go to MovetoWellness.net.

JET TO JETTY IS HAPPENING

“VIRTUALLY!”

Page 24 • September 2020

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

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

September 2020 • Page 25

WE S T C H E S T E R / P L AYA

8

Public Art Scene

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The Westchester/Playa area is home to some great public art from murals on buildings to giant statues, and more art will be added soon with the second round of the Utility Box Art Project! Late last year, nine colorful mini murals were painted throughout the area and now the Westchester/ Playa Art Committee is calling all artists who are interested in using their talent to help beautify the neighborhood to apply. Applications can be obtained by emailing westchesterplayaart@gmail. com and are due by October 1.

In the meantime, here’s a look at some of our favorite public art installations in the area: 1. “BFF” statue by KAWS surrounded by artwork created by street artist Kenny Scharf. The installation is located at Bluff Creek Dr. and S. Campus Center Dr. in Playa Vista.

2. “Melting Man” by Jawsh Smyth, located at La Tijera Blvd. and Sepulveda Westway in Westchester.

3 & 8. The “You are Beautiful” mural by Aly Kourouma recently added four more community members: John and Gail Ruhlen and Alan and Mary Ellen Cassman. The mural is located in the Westchester Village shopping center.

4. “Landmarks of Westchester” by David Russell and Otis College students. The three-part mural is located on Sepulveda Blvd. at 87th St. in Westchester.

5. “Downtown Playa” by Charlie Carroll, John Park and Aaron Rosenstock. The mural is located on the building at 323 Culver Blvd. in PDR. 6. “Welcome to Westchester” mural by David Russell and “You are Beautiful “mural

by Aly Kourouma. The murals are located in the Westchester Village shopping center on Sepulveda Blvd. in Westchester.

7. “Koi Fish” by Terry Godot-Kelly, located on Manchester Blvd. at Emerson Ave. in Westchester.

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

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

September 2020 • Page 27

Page 28 • September 2020

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