Westchester/Playa HomeTown News July 2017 edition

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Visitation students ride on a Loyola Theater floatThis in last the school is creating floatLoyola paying tribute the “Great American WISH Charter School marches in the themed 2014 parade. year’syear’s event parade. will take This placeyear, on Saturday, July 4th at 11 a.m.adown Blvd. fromto Westchester Park to LMU. Road Trip.”

Photos by Glenn Marzano.

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Page 2 • July 2017

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

This Month Brings You A look inside your HTN Denny Schneider named Star of the Neighborhood 02 Annenberg PetSpace celebrates opening in Playa Vista 06 18th Annual Fourth of July Parade Program 09

HOMETOWN STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Stephanie Davis, Publisher, Editor Jeff Blair, Contributing Writer Fay Craton, Contributing Writer

Rebecca Hill, Secret Recipes of the Inn Kirby Israelson, Graphic Design

Advertisers’ Directory

Airport Marina Counseling 07 Alex and Kate Real Estate 19 Amy Frelinger Team 25 AYSO Region 7 12 Cantalini’s Salerno Beach 18 Covenant Presbyterian Church 07 Decron Properties 11 Drollinger Properties 29, 33 El Segundo Car Wash 33 Food Pantry, LAX 07 HHLA 14 Inn at Playa del Rey 26 Jack and Laura Davis 22 Jane St. John 35 LAX Coastal Area Chamber 09 Loyola Marymount 04 Marina del Rey Hospital 36 Melody Bar and Grill 08

Neighborhood Council Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Playa Vista

02 18 22 Rainbow Acres-Washington Blvd. 21 Silicon Beach Parents Group 23 SoCalGas 27 Socal Sports and Fitness 33 Stephanie Younger Group 15 Vergari and Napolitano 24 Visitation School 17 Westchester Elks Lodge 31 Westchester Farmers’ Market 29 Westchester Lutheran 03, 13, 26 Westchester Rotary 20 Westchester Town Center BID 03 Westside Pacific Village 24 Zacha Homes 28

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.

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

Enrolling

July 2017 • Page 3

Community invited to have “An American Adventure” at 18th Annual Fourth of July Parade

Page 4 • July 2017

Photo by Glenn Marzano.

Now in its 18th year, the LAX Coastal Fourth of July Parade has become a community tradition that draws thousands of local residents, visitors and families to Loyola Blvd. to celebrate.

“We are honored to be able to put on this parade for our community, and we know people look forward to it every summer,” says LAX Coastal Board Chair Liz Hall. “We love that this event gives the opportunity for the whole neighborhood to come together to honor Independence Day, as well as celebrate this awesome community. I wouldn’t want to spend my holiday any other way.”

This year’s parade theme is “An American Adventure,” suggested by Westchester Lutheran student Emily Yeow. Organizers are excited to see what the participants come up with and are expecting to see floats that pay tribute to adventurous pastimes, celebrate the national parks and pay homage to America’s monuments.

“Our committee unanimously selected this year’s theme because we thought it would translate to a great parade,” said LAX Coastal President/ CEO Christina Davis. “Summer is all about spending time with your family, and we hope seeing some of the entries inspires the audience to make this a memorable summer, whether

The crowd at center stage waits for the parade to start. Center stage, located at 83rd Street and Loyola, is the most popular place to sit during the parade, thanks to the LMU donated bleachers.

you go on a road trip, play at the beach or visit the great outdoors.”

The parade will take place on Tuesday, July 4 starting at 11 a.m.

Fifty community groups, floats, bands and entries will travel down Loyola Blvd. from Westchester Park (Manchester Ave.) to LMU to complete the .75 mile route.

Parade favorites like the Great Pyrenees, Westchester Lutheran Church and School, the Game Sports Bar & Restaurant and the Emerson Avenue Community Garden will be

returning this year, and will be joining new entries the Southern California DeLorean Club, Hamilton High School, Star Wars tribute 501st Legion and the Silicon Beach Parents Group.

The floats will be judged before the parade by Chamber Board Chair Liz Hall, Honorary Mayor Garrett Smith, sponsor Westfield Culver City’s Ricky Crawford and sponsor Jane St. John in the categories of “Best Overall,” “Spirit of the Parade,” “Chairman’s Award” and “Mayor’s Award.” The winners will be announced with streamers

and special banners as they pass each announcer booth along the parade route.

Sidewalk seating along Loyola Blvd. is available on a first come, first served basis, and parade-goers can also bring blankets or beach chairs to sit on. Organizers recommend arriving between 10 and 10:30 a.m. to reserve your seat along the route.

Popular seating locations include areas near the three announcer booths. Geoff Maleman will be the center stage announcer (at 83rd and Loyola), David Voss will be stationed at the parade start and Larry Israelson will be announcing at the end of the parade route at 80th Street and Loyola.

“We say it every year, but this parade would not be possible without the support and dedication of our sponsors, participants and volunteers,” said Parade Chair Gwen Vuchsas. “We work for many months planning this event because we love the community, and love our country. We are honored that so many families choose to spend their Fourth of July at the parade, and we are happy to be able to put on this neighborhood tradition.”

For more information on the parade, please call the LAX Coastal Chamber at (310) 645-5151 and view our parade program on page 9.

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

Photo by David Zaitz.

Clockwise from left: 1. The Marina del Rey Summer Concert Series takes place on select Thursdays and Saturdays in July and August. 2. The Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club will be serving up pancakes at their annual breakfast at Fire Station 5. This year, the event will partner with AYSO for sign-ups. 3. Food Truck Friday Nights are back in July, August and September at Visitation.

Your Summer Events and Activities List Summer is here in full swing, and there are plenty of free and low cost events in July and August to keep the whole family entertained during the next two months.

Below are our favorite picks for local events and activities that will help contribute to an awesome “What I did over summer break...” essay when school starts for the fall semester.

Elks Lodge 4th of July BBQ

Tuesday, July 4 •12:30 pm • $5 8025 W. Manchester Ave., PDR After the Fourth of July Parade, join the Elks for their family-friendly BBQ. For only $5 you can enjoy a hamburger or hot dog meal and converse with the friendly crowd about the community and inquire about membership.

4th of July Fireworks Celebration

Tuesday, July 4 • 9 pm • FREE Marina del Rey Get to the Marina early if you want

a prime viewing location for the 20-minute fireworks spectacular starting at 9 p.m. in honor of Independence Day. View the show at Fisherman’s Village (13755 Fiji Way) or Burton Chace Park (13650 Mindanao Way) and enjoy synchronized music while watching the red, white and blue display. Mother’s Beach, located at 4101 Admiralty Way, is also a popular viewing location.

Streets around the Marina close early for the fireworks show, so make sure to check out the county’s website for street closure times and a shuttle schedule.

For more info, visit beaches.lacounty.gov.

LMU Outdoor Movie Nights

Friday, July 21 • 8:15 pm • FREE 1 LMU Drive, Westchester LMU Outdoor Movie Nights are back this month and the community is invited to pull up a chair and enjoy a movie under the stars.

On Friday, July 21, visit the campus

for a showing of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” The film is a “Harry Potter” franchise spin-off based in 1920s New York.

Bring your low-slung beach chairs and blankets and LMU will provide the popcorn for the movie night on Lawton Plaza. Parking is free on weekdays after 8 pm.

For more info, visit lmu.edu/ community.

Food Truck Friday Nights

Friday, July 21 • 5 pm • Various $ 8740 Emerson Ave., Westchester Stop by Visitation for Food Truck Friday Nights, held the third Friday of the month during summer.

At the event, the school yard is lined with food trucks with lots of yummy grub for purchase, and there are plenty of tables and chairs to enjoy your meal while listening to live music or a DJ. A dessert stand, kids’ activities, entertainment and a beer garden round out the event.

July’s event is themed “Surf’s Up!” The full Food Truck Friday Nights

season line-up includes Friday, August 18th with a “Let’s Tailgate” theme and Friday, September 15, with a “Be True to Your School” theme.

For more information, visit visitationschool.org.

19th Annual Pancake Breakfast at Fire Station 5

Saturday, July 22 • 8 to 11 am • $5 8900 Emerson Ave., Westchester Meet your local fire fighters and eat your weight in pancakes at this annual event hosted by the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club.

Pancakes, with or without chocolate chips, orange juice, coffee and sausages will be served courtesy of the Los Angeles Airport Marriott staff.

After you eat, stick around for demonstrations from the fire fighters, a bounce house, kids’ activities and face painting. As an added bonus this year, AYSO is holding soccer registration during the event. Proceeds from the breakfast benefit Fire Station 5.

For more info, visit playavenice.org.

(continued on page 7)

Reserve your ad space in our 6th Annual Best Of issue!

Our Best Of winners will be revealed in our favorite issue of the year published Thursday, August 3.

Reserve your ad space by emailing westchesterhometown@yahoo.com no later than July 17.

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

July 2017 • Page 5

Opening day of the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace was filled with pet adoptions, visitors touring the facility, behind the scene tours and a visit from Instagram celebrity Marnie (top right).

The grand opening of the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace kicked off on Saturday, June 24, as hundreds of eager visitors flocked to Playa Vista to visit and tour the state-of-the-art 2-story, 30,000 square foot facility.

The interactive community space is dedicated to providing a unique place for animal adoptions, while promoting the human-animal bond.

Guests were treated to behind the scenes tours, free lunch from food trucks, giveaways, kids’ activities, demonstrations and photo ops with celebrity dogs Marnie and Tuna.

“This has been a dream of mine for a long, long time. It’s about time, I would say, that dogs, cats and companion animals get what they deserve,” said Wallis Annenberg addressing the crowd at the grand opening. “I won’t go in those other places.

I don’t want to hear the howling, the crying or see people pacing around in a dirty cage. I can’t do it. Here it is going to be just the opposite. We have a five star hotel available for them, and we want all of you to be here—all ages. There is something for everyone.”

As guests enter PetSpace’s lobby,

they are greeted with PetVision, a giant interactive touch screen wall with information about the facility, as well as giant dog and cat sculptures that help contribute to the fun, festive and friendly atmosphere of the space.

Upstairs are the pet adoption suites, designed to mimic a home environment, where dogs, cats and rabbits are waiting for their “furever” homes. Each suite also has a “PetBook,” a digital touch screen with the animal’s photograph and information on the pet’s personality, characteristics and needs. Once potential pet parents see a dog or cat they are interested in adopting, they can move to the Pounce Patio or Fetch Deck to interact and make sure that they are a good fit. PetSpace works with county shelters to bring animals to the facility for adoption that are the most in need of services, including those that need additional veterinary care and may have a harder time getting adopted for a variety of reasons.

During opening weekend, 27 pets were adopted.

While pet adoptions are the main attraction, PetSpace will also have a robust programming schedule

with hands-on workshops, lectures, adoption events, special needs programming and more in the works.

In July, PetSpace is offering behind the scene tours where guests can view its grooming facilities, veterinary treatment rooms and its state-of the-art rehabilitation center, complete with a hydrotherapy treadmill. A “Paws and Pages” program, where kids can work on their communication and selfconfidence by reading with adoptable pets or listening to stories is currently taking reservations.

“I just want to say that this PetSpace is going to be a fun place, worlds away from the cramped substandard places that we are all used to unfortunately,” said Annenberg. “And hopefully it will be a model for the nation.”

The Wallis Annenberg PetSpace is located at 12005 Bluff Creek Drive in Playa Vista. Admission is free, but some special programming may have a fee. The facility is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Street and valet parking are available. For more info, visit annenbergpetspace.org.

Pictured at right from the top: 1. Ronald D’Avignon made one of the first pet adoptions of the day after connecting with Libby, a Chihuahua-mix. 2. The Pet Porch will be used for presentations, lectures and educational programming. 3. Rescued dogs perform tricks during a demonstration at PetSpace’s “Barks & Rec,” an outdoor space for programming and exercise area for adoptable dogs.

Page 6 • July 2017

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

Summer events (cont’d) (continued from page 5)

Beach Eats

Thursdays • 5-9 pm • Various $ Mother’s Beach, Marina del Rey Every Thursday though September 28, Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey hosts Beach Eats! The food truck festival gives locals and visitors alike the chance to grab a bite to eat and picnic in the sand, while enjoying the scenic view. Whether you’re in the mood for lobster rolls, burgers, Mexican food or dessert, chances are good you’ll leave the beach satisfied.

Trucks change weekly, so visit bestfoodtrucks.com/beacheats for the week’s list of trucks.

Beach & Marina Movie Nights

Various dates • 8 pm • FREE Various locations Bring the whole family to Dockweiler Beach Youth Center on select Friday nights and Burton Chace Park on select Saturday nights for outdoor movies under the stars.

Pack refreshments, blankets and your low-back chairs for movies starting at 8 p.m.

At Dockweiler, the schedule is: • Friday, July 7– “The Secret Life of Pets” • Friday, July 14– “Lilo and Stitch” • Friday, July 21– “Finding Dory” • Friday, July 28– “Surf’s Up 2” • Friday, August 11– “Storks” • Friday, August 18– “Moana” • Friday, August 25– “Kubo and the Two Strings” Burton Chace Park’s Saturday movie schedule is: • Saturday, July 8– “The Lego Batman Movie” • Saturday, July 22– “Singin’ in the Rain” • Saturday, August 5– “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory” • Saturday, August 19– “Swiss Family Robinson” The Dockweiler Beach Youth Center is located at 12505 Vista del Mar in Playa del Rey and Burton Chace Park is located at 13650 Mindanao Way in Marina del Rey. For more info, visit beaches. lacounty.gov.

Marina del Rey Summer Concert Series

Various dates • 7 pm • Free 13650 Mindanao Way, MDR Burton Chace Park is home to the popular 17th Annual Marina del Rey Summer Concert Series. The lineup alternates between symphonic classics and pop concerts to create a schedule that will appeal to a variety of music lovers.

This year’s series includes: • Thursday, July 6– Opera by the Shore • Saturday, July 15– Joe (R&B) • Thursday, July 20– Symphonic score & screening of Chaplin’s “The Kid” • Saturday, July 29– Alejandro

Escovedo (Alt/Roots Rock) • Thursday, August 3– Matthew Morrison • Saturday, August 12– Yo La Tengo (Indie) • Thursday, August 17– Giuseppe Verdi’s “Aida” (fully staged opera production) • Saturday, August 26– Arturo Sandoval (Jazz).

Attendees are encouraged to bring low-back chairs or blankets for first come, first serve seating.

For more info, visit beaches. lacounty.gov.

Playa Vista Summer Events

Various dates • Various times • FREE Various Playa Vista parks Playa Vista has built a reputation as the place to be for summer movies and concerts in the park, and this year is no different. Playa Vista is home to some of the community’s most beautiful parks, making them the perfect family-friendly locale to visit for a weekend outing.

Playa Vista’s concerts run from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and this year’s lineup includes: • Sunday, July 23– No Duh (No Doubt tribute band) at Central Park Bandshell • Sunday, August 13– Kenny Metcalf as Elton (Elton John tribute band) at Central Park Bandshell Playa Vista Movies in the Park are shown from 8 to 10 p.m. and the films include: • Friday, July 14– “The Notebook” at Central Park Bandshell • Friday, August 18–”Sing” at Concert Park Playa Vista is also hosting a surprise pop-up event on Saturday, July 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. involving a mobile art piece at Concert Park.

Concert Park is located at Concert Park Drive and Runway Road; the Central Park Bandshell is located at Waterfront Drive and Artisans Way; and Sports Park is located at Playa Vista and Bluff Creek Drives.

For information on parking or Playa Vista’s shuttle service, please visit playavista.com/events.

Come Join your Friends at

COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Worship Service 10:30 am Canines@Covenant 5:00 pm Sunday Covenant is on the corner of 80th and Sepulveda Blvd.

Church School for Young People during Service.

We have an Orchestra and Adult, Youth and Children’s Choirs.

Email: cpoffis@pacbell.net Childcare is provided-For more information, Call (310) 670-5750.

Westchester Arts and Music Festival

Saturday, Sept. 23 •10 am • FREE Emerson Ave. between 80th St. and 80th Pl., Westchester Summer officially ends on September 22, but the Emerson Avenue Community Garden is throwing one last blockbuster party combining music, arts, dancing, food and community to round out the season. Details are still being finalized, so check out wamblockparty.org for more info.

What’s on your must-do summer list? Let us know at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com or at facebook.com/thehtn.com!

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

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

Ad donated by the Covenant Presbyterian Church

July 2017 • Page 7

Westchester Rotary Global Grant Scholar works to fight neglected tropical diseases Natalie Dial knows a lot about infectious diseases.

As a college student, Dial, the granddaughter of “Mr. Westchester” Howard Drollinger, was working in an HIV clinic in Tanzania when she contracted malaria. Malaria, a lifethreatening blood disease caused by parasites transmitted to humans through the bite of the Anopheles mosquito, is easily controlled and treated if caught early.

Though wracked with fever and vomiting, Dial waited in a Tanzanian medical clinic to purchase the $2 in medication necessary to kill the parasites and stop the progression of the disease. As she looked around the waiting room, she saw many other malaria victims, most of whom could not afford the medication that was so inexpensive for her.

“For some of those people, $2 was a day’s wages or more,” said Dial, who added that financial inequity in sub-Saharan Africa means that most malaria victims don’t get diagnosed or can’t afford medication until it is too late. Once an infected mosquito bites a human and transmits the parasites, those parasites multiply in the host’s liver quickly before infecting and destroying red blood cells.

“Ironically enough, this experience

Page 8 • July 2017

Rotary Global Grant Scholarship recipient, Natalie Dial (center), poses with Westchester Rotary President Judy Delavigne (right) and Rotarian Christa Ramey at a recent luncheon.

initiated a pointed passion to study and influence poverty-related disease,” she said. “In the past eight years, I have since earned a bachelor’s in microbiology, a master’s in both public policy and global health sciences and worked as an HIV educator—only to become more fascinated than ever with infectious disease. Similar to the Rotary namesake, I too have rotated through many disparate realms of public health, including Gambia, China, Los Angeles, and rural Montana in

search of connections, knowledge and experiences to unearth my intentions and capacity in the field.”

Late last year, Dial applied for a Rotary Global Grant Scholarship to further her study of neglected tropical diseases. The Rotary Club of Westchester, where her grandfather was a fifty-plus year member with perfect attendance, agreed to champion her cause, submitting her application to the District level and ultimately to Rotary International where she was one of just two scholars

selected from Rotary District 5280– an area that stretches from Sunland to Malibu to Palos Verdes.

The $30,000 scholarship, funded by both District 5280 and Rotary International, will allow Dial to spend one year in the doctoral program in Global Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, beginning in the fall. She will be sponsored in London by the Rotary Club of Southgate.

“I felt really encouraged by all the people who helped me apply for this opportunity,” said Dial.

The Rotary Global Grant Scholarship is a graduate-level scholarship contingent on a number of factors, including the fact that the area of study has to fit within one of the six Rotary areas of focus (in Dial’s case disease and prevention), respond to community needs and include sustainable measured outcomes, as well as active involvement by Rotarians and community members.

The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is a leading infectious disease research institution specializing in global public health, and the school offers a new-age doctoral degree equivalent to the PhD, the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH).

(continued on page 30)

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

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

4th of July Parade Program

July 2017 • Page 9

The LAX Coastal Chamber may be a business organization, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t know how to throw a good party, especially one that includes a few thousand spectators and celebrates America’s birthday!

While the Chamber’s mission is to promote a strong business climate for its members, being a good community partner is equally as important.

The Chamber is honored to be able to present the Fourth of July Parade year after year, as a celebration of community and our country.

As is now Chamber tradition, the parade is the first public event for the newly installed Board Chamber Board Chair Liz Hall and Honorary Mayor Chair, Liz Hall, and Honorary Mayor, Garrett Garrett Smith.

Smith, who will both be riding in cars in this year’s event.

“A Chamber is as strong as our members and my goal is to continue to grow that membership Hall is a Playa del Rey resident and is the so we, as the Chamber, can have a stronger voice General Manager at the Inn at Playa del Rey. in the community,” said Hall. “I know the Under her leadership, the Inn has been awarded power of wanting to be heard, so one of my goals Tripadvisor’s Certificate of Excellence for the last six years, and the site ranks it as one of the is to reach out and hear what our members want best B&Bs in Los Angeles. In addition to her and see how that can fit into what we offer.” work with the Chamber, she is also actively Hall has selected longtime Westchester involved with the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary resident and owner of Communications a La Club, Found Animals Shelter and the Susan G. Carte, Garrett Smith, as her Honorary Mayor.

Komen 3-Day Walk for a Cure.

Smith is an active volunteer with numerous Hall says one of her goals during her year as organizations including the Neighborhood chair is to hear from members about what they Council, earning him the 2016 Citizen of the want to get out of the organization.

Year Award from the Westchester Rotary Club.

Page 10 • July 2017

4th of July Parade Program

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

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

4th of July Parade Program

July 2017 • Page 11

LINE OF MARCH 1. LAPD Pacific Division Junior Cadets 2. Salute to Our Sponsors

28. Loyola Marymount University

15. Hamilton High School Marching Band

3. LA #1 Hog 4. Westchester del Rey Little League 5. Great Pyrenees Alliance of the West 6. Otis College of Art and Design 7. Inglewood High School Sentinel Marching Band 8. Congresswoman Maxine Waters 9. Rainbow Acres Washington Blvd.

10. MOMS Clubs of Westchester/Playa 11. Visitation Catholic School

14. Star of the Neighborhood Denny Schneider

29. Mighty Gondolier Marching Band of Venice High School

16. Los Angeles World Airports & Airport 30. Parade Theme - Emily Yeow of Police Westchester Lutheran School

42. Westchester Parents Nursery School 43. AYSO Region 7

17. 501st Legion “Vader’s Fist”

31. SoCal Masonic Lodge #529, F & AM

18. Rotary Clubs on the LAFD Firetrucks

32. Nick Melvoin, LAUSD District 4

44. Emerson Ave. Community Garden & Westchester Farmer's Market

19. Boy Scouts of America Troop 716/927

33. St. Monica Catholic High School

45. LAX Coastal Education Foundation

20. Dance It Out!

34. WISH Community School

21. Thaine Morris and the Calliope 22. Silicon Beach Parents Group

35. LAX Coastal Chamber Chair Liz Hall & Honorary Mayor Garrett Smith

46. DRALL - Del Rey American Little League

23. Kentwood Players

36. St. Jerome School

37. Grand Marshal Uncle Sam 24. St. Bernard High School 12. LAPD Capt. Dominic Choi, Booster 38. Redondo Union High Marching Band Board Member Warren Magness, & 25. Southern California DeLorean Club LAPD West Traffic Division 26. Wright Middle School STEAM Magnet 39. Westchester Elks Lodge 2050 13. St. Anastasia

41. Westchester Lutheran Church & School

40. Westchester Little League

27. Senator Ben Allen

47. Charro Horses 48. Game Sports Bar 49. LAX Coastal Chamber

*Final line of march as of press time

PLAY SOCCER! The AYSO Philosophies:

Everyone Plays • Balanced Teams • Open Registration Positive Coaching • Good Sportsmanship Player Development With almost 1,600 players registered, AYSO is the largest sporting youth organization in the Westside. Run by a squad of over 300 volunteers, AYSO invites you to be a part of the preeminent youth sports experience in our community. We even offer free clinics with professional coaches throughout the season!

Season starts in September, with games in Nielsen Park, Playa Vista, and St. Bernard High School.

To Register / More information for Region 7 at ayso.bluesombrero.com/region7 Ian McCullen, ayso7rc@gmail.com Page 12 • July 2017

4th of July Parade Program

•

Dennis Kissick, aysodk@gmail.com

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

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

4th of July Parade Program

July 2017 • Page 13

This year’s parade participants LAPD Pacific Division Junior Cadets Continuing a tradition, the LAPD Pacific Area Junior Cadets lead off our parade and proudly carry the American flag. The Cadets range from ages fourteen to twenty and work in close partnership with LAPD Community Relations. They will be marching all the way to 80th Street to give everyone in attendance the chance to salute our Nation’s flag.

“An American Adventure” Salute to our Sponsors This parade would not be possible without the generosity of our sponsors. Carrying our great flag, here are representatives of the organizations that have stepped up to the plate to ensure the success of this event. Let’s make sure to give them a big round of applause!

Admiral Sponsor: Decron Properties Celebration Sponsor: Zacha Homes

Firecracker Sponsors: Cantalini’s Salerno Beach Restaurant, Pacifica Hotel Company, Playa Vista/ Brookfield Residential and the Smith family: Garrett, Trish and Analise.

L.A. #1 HOG Chapter Harley Owners Group (or “HOG” for short), Los Angeles Area #1 Chapter is sponsored by Bartel’s Harley-Davidson in Marina del Rey. L.A. #1 is celebrating its 31st year as a chapter and has more than 150 members.

These riders are active contributors to our community, serving various charities and giving back to our veterans.

L.A. #1 HOG has been a proud participant in the Westchester 4th of July Parade since the beginning and is glad to be here in the 18th year of the celebration!

Westchester Del Rey Little League

Flagship Sponsors: Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation, HHLA, the HomeTown News, Jane St. John/ REMAX Estate Properties, Stephanie Younger Group/Compass and Westfield Freedom Sponsors: The Neighborhood Council of Westchester/ Playa and Westchester Lutheran Church and School Patriot Sponsors: Alex and Kate Real Estate, Fineman Suarez Real Estate Team, Glenn’s Designs, Loyola Marymount University, Marina del Rey Hospital, Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club and Star Waggons Friends of the Parade: Carousel School, Ladies of the Westchester Elks, Los Angeles Airport Marriott, Los Angeles Football League, Jose Marrero Family, Thaine Morris, SoCalGas, South Bay Custom

Page 14 • July 2016

Integration, St. Anastasia, Westchester Elks Lodge #2050 and the Westchester Rotary Club

Westchester Del Rey Little League was founded by Mary Ann and Kent Mace in 1974 and had approximately 50 girls playing the first season. Today, the league has grown to more than 300 players on 25 teams of girls from age 4 up to age 16. Today’s parade features players from various divisions joining us for “An American Adventure.”

The Westchester Del Rey Little League season runs from the beginning of March through July. Please contact wdrllreg@ gmail.com or call (310) 645-0903 for more information. You may also visit the league website at wdrll.com.

Great Pyrenees Alliance of the West (GPAW) Great Pyrenees originated in the mountains of France, bred to protect flocks of sheep.

They’re still livestock guardians today, but are also pet-assisted therapy companions, film performers and competitive show dogs. AKC Champions and Certified Therapy Dogs are

4th of July Parade Program

with us today as the Great Pyrenees Alliance of the West makes its 16th appearance in our parade.

The white dogs in the movie “Santa Paws,” as well as Porthos, the dog in “Finding Neverland,” were Great Pyrenees. The oversized “lap dog” in a recent Little Caesar’s TV commercial was a GPAW dog, too.

GPAW Rescue places Pyrs in “forever” homes. For more information about adopting a Great Pyrenees, just ask the folks with the big white dogs!

Otis College of Art and Design The “Moving Art” Creative Action class from Otis College of Art and Design celebrates the diversity of Americans and the fantastic adventures we enjoy “from California to the New York island.”

These costumes and silhouette sculptures visually represent their theme, and 99% of the materials are from recycled and biodegradable sources. The music you hear is Woody Guthrie’s iconic folk song, “This Land is Your Land,” playing in several languages to reflect the many cultures of locals and visitors. Otis College invites you to sing along: “This land is your land, this land is my land From California to the New York island From the redwood forest to the gulf stream waters This land was made for you and me As I was walking that ribbon of highway I saw above me that endless skyway I saw below me that golden valley This land was made for you and me I’ve roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts And all around me a voice was sounding This land was made for you and me.”

Inglewood High School Sentinel Marching Band The Inglewood High School Sentinel

Marching Band is making its third appearance in the LAX Coastal Fourth of July Parade, so let’s give them a warm welcome!

The Inglewood High Marching Band has been featured in “Teachers Rock” on CBS, Cartoon Network’s “Hall Of Game Show,” and a recent commercial called “No Strings Attached” for Beats by Dre. They have also performed at the Forum, The Home Depot Center and the Nokia Theater.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters Elected by the citizens of California’s 43rd District to her 14th term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Maxine Waters proudly represents Westchester, Playa del Rey, Gardena, Harbor City/Harbor Gateway, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lennox, Lomita, parts of South Los Angeles and Torrance.

Always a strong advocate for her constituents, Congresswoman Waters continues to fight against LAX expansion into our neighborhoods; for preservation of the Ballona Wetlands; for new technology-based industry; and for other issues of importance to the region.

She is currently the Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee and is also co-chair of the Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force.

Congresswoman Waters is joined today by her husband, Ambassador Sidney Williams.

Rainbow Acres Natural Foods Washington Blvd.

Rainbow Acres Washington Boulevard joins the parade for the third year in a row!

This family-owned and operated natural food market has been serving our community for more than 36 years and features 3 generations of family providing customers with nutritious plant-based options, as well as cold-pressed juices, that help make healthy eating accessible and delicious.

Happy Birthday America from Rainbow Acres Washington Boulevard!

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

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

4th of July Parade Program

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This year’s parade participants MOMS Clubs of Westchester/Playa

St. Anastasia School

Visitation Catholic School

St. Anastasia Catholic School and Parish have lovingly served the Westchester and Playa del Rey communities for more than 60 years. Their students, ranging from Junior Kindergartners to 8th Graders, experience an environment that is rich in a tradition of academic excellence and service to others. During the past year, their students have excelled in Mock Trial, Academic Decathlon, Robotics, Athletics, and performance of the musical, “Annie.”

A one-to-one Chromebook and iPad program helps St. Anastasia students use 21st century tools to become community leaders for the future. A diverse arts program includes fine arts, music, dance and drama, and the athletics program features varied sports such as golf, archery and cross country.

St. Anastasia students thrive in high school and college and often return to give back to the community in many ways. The St. A’s school family is thrilled to participate in this joyous celebration and wishes everyone a happy and healthy Fourth of July.

Giddy up! Here come the MOMS Clubs of Westchester and Playa del Rey on a horsedrawn wagon with their little outlaws. MOMS stands for Moms Offering Moms Support.

The goal of this nonprofit, international organization is to bring neighborhood mothers together to enrich the lives they lead, as well as those of their children and their communities.

Activities for local moms include social events, community service opportunities and children’s play groups. These MOMS Clubs would love for you to join them, and wish all neighbors and families a wild and adventurous Fourth of July!

The MOMS Club has monthly socials during the day for moms and kids, in addition to a monthly Moms’ Night Out. It also is a charitybased organization that supports a variety of local charities throughout the year, including service projects. For more information visit momsclubwestchester.org or email momsclubwestchesterw@yahoo.com.

Visitation School is proud to once again have a float that is 100% designed and built by the parents of the school! Their American Adventure is a coast-to-coast road trip that starts with the beautiful Ferris wheel on Santa Monica Pier. Among the other destinations are the Cadillac Ranch in Texas, the St. Louis Gateway Arch and New York City! Following the float is a classic car with Visitation teacher of the year Erin Solari, and other cars with amazing Viz families. And, no legit road trip would be complete without an awesome “mix tape!” Remember those? Happy 4th of July, Westchester!

Visitation Catholic School has a history of excellence in the community since 1947 and is proud to offer the best in educational, athletic and other youth programs in Westchester.

Visitation School educates nearly 300 amazing students from Junior Kindergarten through 8th grade. Under the leadership of pastor Fr. Jim Forsen and Principal Chris Watson, Visitation is served by an outstanding and dedicated faculty, staff and administration.

For more information, go to visitationschool. org. Go Bulldogs!

LAPD Captain Dominic Choi, Booster Board Member Warren Magness with LAPD West Traffic Division Dominic Choi is the Captain at the LAPD Pacific Area Community Police Station, located at Culver Boulevard and Centinela. Born in Los Angeles, Capt. Choi began his career with the LAPD in 1995, and he’s been protecting our citizens and streets ever since. He would like to remind everyone to lock up their belongings and report suspicious activity, because if we all work together, we can help make our area safer.

It is the mission of the Los Angeles Police Department to safeguard the lives and property of the people in the communities it serves; to reduce the incidence and fear of crime; and to enhance public safety while working to improve area residents’ quality of life. The mandate of the men and women of the LAPD is to perform these services with honor and integrity, while at all times conducting themselves with the highest ethical standards to maintain public confidence.

Riding with Capt. Choi and the LAPD West Traffic Division is Warren Magness, Board Member of the Pacific Area Boosters Association. Happy Fourth of July from the LAPD to you!

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Star of the Neighborhood Denny Schneider Congratulations to this year’s Star of the Neighborhood, Denny Schneider! Denny has lived in Westchester since 1973 and has been a dedicated volunteer ever since.

From being a founding member of the Neighborhood Council to helping negotiate a landmark deal to keep LAX’s north runway from moving closer to Westchester and Playa del Rey, Denny has dedicated his life to making the community a great place to live, work and raise a family. Read more about Denny Schneider on page 2 of the HTN.

Hamilton High School Marching Band The Academy of Music and Performing Arts at Hamilton High School is a magnet program providing students with an opportunity to study the performing arts with experienced teachers.

“In the Winds” is the marching band program, which is the second level of a threetiered ensemble program. The Marching Band performs at football games, concerts and competitions. Today, under the leadership of drum major Isai Perez, the band will play stand tunes and selections from field shows.

Hamilton High School appreciates the opportunity to participate in this year’s parade, and would like to acknowledge seniors Jordyn Sacino, Michael Torres and Kaitlyn Jones.

The Marching Band program is under the direction of Stephen McDonough. If you’re interested in supporting this band through a donation, contact Stephen through the Hamilton High School website!

Los Angeles World Airports & Airport Police Let’s fly back in time with the Los Angeles International Airport! Known as Mines Field in the 1930s, the name was officially changed to Los Angeles Airport in 1941.

Back in the day, airlines like TWA and PanAm ruled the skies, but now nearly 70 airlines fly in and out of LAX. Many of those airlines are represented on the signs that volunteers are carrying today. Walking in the parade are staff members from the LAX Community Relations Division, which focuses on establishing and maintaining strong partnerships and relationships with nearby communities.

4th of July Parade Program

Also walking are members of the LAX Police bicycle unit and police cadets, as well as LAX VIPs, who help provide information to travelers in the terminals. Finally, we have the adorable LAX PUPs, led by Heidi Heubner, who help to ease traveler anxiety with their wagging tails and puppy kisses!

Check them out on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see all of the great ways the airport partners with our community.

501st Legion “Vader’s Fist”

Since 1997, the 501st Legion has been dedicated to re-creating film-quality costumes of the “villainous” characters of the Star Wars galaxy and spreading the magic of Star Wars to fans of all ages.

The 501st Legion (sometimes called by its nickname, “Vader’s Fist”) is made up entirely of volunteers, with members spending months, or even years, researching and constructing their costumes. From Sith Lords like Darth Vader to nefarious bounty hunters like Boba Fett, and from hostile aliens like the Tusken Raiders to the Stormtroopers of the Galactic Empire, you’ll see them all within the 501st Legion!

While they might be viewed as bad guys in the movies, this community-focused group is anything but, with their volunteers helping to raise millions of dollars for charity over the past twenty years. From one galaxy to another, the 501st Legion would like to wish you a happy Fourth of July and, of course, may the Force be with you!

Rotary Clubs on the LAFD Firetrucks Give a warm welcome to the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotarians, LAX Coastal Chamber representatives, and the Los Angeles City Fire Department! Riding on these fire trucks today are members of the Rotary clubs, community leaders and their families.

Rotary is a service group made up of dedicated men and women who use their “time, talent and treasure” to give back to our community, supporting such projects as teacher mini-grants, the Teacher Eddy Awards and today’s parade. Let’s show our appreciation for these great volunteers!

Boy Scouts of America Troop 716 & 927 Joining us next are troops 716 and 927 of the Boy Scouts of America!

A true “American Adventure,” scouting began in 1907 and has grown into an international movement, providing young people with the opportunity to serve their communities.

Westchester’s scouting community, consisting of hundreds of scouts, carries on the tradition of “service above self” that characterizes the organization’s purpose.

The objectives of Boy, Venture and Cub Scouting are to develop character through outdoor experiences, leadership opportunities, and service to one’s community. The highest award in Boy Scouts is the Eagle Award, a prestigious service award directed at community betterment. Westchester has seen many scouts obtain the Eagle rank and realize their potential as skilled and responsible citizens.

Troop 927 meets the first 3 Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, at 80th Street and Sepulveda Boulevard.

For more information, please contact Patty Biner at pilatepat@gmail.com or visit Troop927.com.

To inquire about Troop 716, please email

Joyce Swensson at jswensson@gmail.com.

Dance It Out! Making its first appearance in the Westchester parade is Dance It Out, a fun cardio workout featuring a fusion of dance styles, from disco to line dancing to hip-hop and more! Travel and adventure propel this entry, performed to “How Far I’ll Go,” the Oscarnominated song from “Moana.” Today’s dancers are led by Sheri Weitz, who teaches weekly Dance It Out classes at the L.A. Arts Collective in Westchester every Thursday at 7 p.m.

In addition to the Thursday class, Sheri volunteers for the Westchester Senior Center every Tuesday at 4 p.m., helping local seniors stay fit through dance.

Created by Billy Blanks, Jr., Dance It Out is a total-body, high-energy workout. Dance It Out offers a non-judgmental environment that welcomes students of all fitness levels, ages, shapes and sizes.

For additional information about Sheri’s Dance It Out classes, please visit movetowellness.net or facebook.com/DIOsheri.

Thaine Morris and the Calliope We are proud to once again have the Calliope Car in our parade!

A calliope is a musical instrument that produces sound by sending gas, steam, or compressed air through large whistles— originally, locomotive whistles.

The calliope is owned and driven by Westchester resident Thaine Morris. Thank you, Thaine, for celebrating our nation’s birthday with us!

Silicon Beach Parents Group Marching with us for the first time are the families of Silicon Beach Parents Group, led by founding mom Gabrielle D’Addario. The group was created to build a stronger sense of community between families residing in Silicon Beach through local events, education and outreach.

Today’s families are trying to lead by example, encouraging all of us to get involved with our local communities and create our own “American Adventure!”

Find more information about this group through their website, siliconbeachparents.com, or by joining their Facebook group @SiliconBeachParents.

Kentwood Players Members of Kentwood Players, Westchester’s favorite community theater, are celebrating the American Adventures of beloved native storytellers and playwrights. Kentwood Players has been providing affordable live entertainment to our community for more than 65 years! Its next production is Neil Simon’s The Gingerbread Lady, opening July 14 and running Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday matinées through August 19.

Kentwood Players performs at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Ave., and is a completely volunteer, member-run organization. Producing six shows each year, the group is always looking for new members, technicians, designers and performers. Membership meetings (including refreshments and entertainment) are held at 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month at the Playhouse. All are welcome!

For more information, call (310) 645-5156 and leave a message or visit kentwoodplayers. org.

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

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

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This year’s parade participants St. Bernard High School Founded in 1957, St. Bernard High School celebrates 60 years serving the communities of Westchester and Playa del Rey as your local, neighborhood Catholic co-educational High School.

St. Bernard boasts a 95% college acceptance rate. The Class of 2017 will send students to UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, Howard and LMU, just to name a few. The school offers an innovative single-gender STEM program, and is the only high school in the Los Angeles Archdiocese to offer the program.

The school is proud of its St. Bernard’s boy’s Basketball team, which recently won back-toback CIF Southern Section championships!

Walking with St. Bernard today is the Transfiguration Catholic School drum line, led by Christopher Nuno.

St. Bernard High School has more than 11,000 Viking alumni! Let’s hear a “Hail All Hail” from our Viking alumni in the crowd today!

Southern California DeLorean Club

Back in 1981, John DeLorean challenged the automotive industry with his stainless steel sports car built in a state-of-the-art factory in Northern Ireland. Only 8,600 of these cars were made.

After 36 years, 6,000 are still around—a real tribute to its design. These cars are driven by

members of the Southern California DeLorean Club, a chapter of the International DeLorean Owners Association. Southern California represents one of the largest concentrations of these cars in the world. The distinctive lines leave no doubt these high-tech machines will take you anywhere, including Back To The Future as the movie would suggest. Many do carry a Flux Capacitor, however, at 88 miles per hour, the noise and flash-of-light usually comes from the California Highway Patrol!

Thank you for joining us this year!

Wright Middle School STEAM Magnet At this year’s parade, Wright Middle School celebrates “Adventures in Flight!” May Wright continue to soar to greater heights!

Their entry celebrates seven notable people and events in the history of flight that are featured on the school’s mural that overlooks Wright’s beautiful lunch quad.

The entry was designed by Kira Myers and was constructed by Wright art students. Wright’s entry is accompanied by their drum line, the Beat Hawks, under the direction of Wright’s music teacher Eleni Maureas.

The drum line is introduced by their ASB banner bearers, including Student Body President Adrian Belao and Secretary Ana Rubio.

Senator Ben Allen Senator Ben Allen represents the Westside and South Bay communities of Los Angeles. He chairs the Senate Education Committee and serves on the Committees on Natural Resources and Water, Transportation and Housing; and Elections and Constitutional Amendments. His policy priorities include education, the environment, jobs, the economy, transportation and political reform.

Prior to this election to the Senate in 2014, he was a board member of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.

Senator Allen is accompanied by his fiancé, Melanie Luthern and his parents, Elena and Michael Allen.

Loyola Marymount University LMU is proud to once again be part of the LAX Coastal 4th of July Parade!

This year’s float reflects the academic adventures that students can embark on at one of LMU’s six colleges and schools. Go Lions!

Mighty Gondolier Marching Band of Venice High School

Next up is the Mighty Gondolier Marching Band of Venice High School (VHS), under the direction of David W. Lee. This year’s Fourth of July Parade band consists of current students, alumni and future gondos.

They are accompanied by the Venice High

School Cheer Squad. The group is honored to be invited back and to march for their second consecutive year.

Tag them in your photos on Instagram @veniceHSband!

The VHS Music Department is one of the leading music programs representing LAUSD in both All State and National Honor Ensembles, as well as consistently having students participate in California State Summer School of the Arts and other prestigious programs. With a range of various musical opportunities, from choir, to orchestra, to band, and starting in this fall, Mariachi, students have a plethora of musical opportunities in addition to the full high school experience.

For more information, check out the VHS Music Department’s website at venicehsmusic. org. Wishing you a festive Independence Day!

Parade Theme: Emily Yeow, Westchester Lutheran School

Once again, our parade committee asked the community to help pick this year’s parade theme, and we were delighted when Emily Yeow, a Westchester Lutheran Middle School student, submitted “An American Adventure!”

Emily was born and raised in Westchester and enjoys daily adventures, including walking her dog, playing volleyball and practicing Taekwondo.

Read more about Emily on page 26 of the HomeTown News. Thank you, Emily!

All parade photos by Glenn Marzano. Thank you Glenn for being our parade photographer!

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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

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This year’s parade participants SoCal Masonic Lodge #529, F&AM

The Southern California Masonic Lodge will commemorate the adventure of “riding the rails” and exploring our great country. They are riding on a replica locomotive with their Masonic brothers of both the Shriners and neighboring Lodges.

The Southern California Masonic Lodge has been a part of this community for over sixty years, beginning as Westchester Lodge and has been joined by Westgate, Menorah, Loyalty and several other locations over the years.

Their core mission remains the same: a place for men to meet and do their best to become better men. They have many events in and out of the lodge each year and are always looking for new members.

If you are interested in joining, just ask. And don’t believe all the conspiracy theories. The group meets the first Thursday of every month, with an open house on the third Thursday of the month.

Nick Melvoin, LAUSD District 4

Riding in our parade for the first time is the neighborhood’s newly elected LAUSD School Board Member, Nick Melvoin. Nick not only has Westchester ties as an alum of LMU, but his campaign for the school board originated in our community.

He wants to thank all the amazing volunteers who helped in his campaign and is excited to work with Westchester to put kids first on the school board.

Nick will be officially sworn-in on Thursday and hopes you’ll learn more at nickmelvoin. com. He wishes everyone a wonderful 4th of July!

St. Monica Catholic High School

Joining us for the third year is St. Monica Catholic High School. Over 100 St. Monica High School students come from the Westchester/ Playa del Rey area. The St. Monica family is proud to have so many valuable ties to the Westchester community and is happy to be part of this great American tradition.

Go Mariners! Go Westchester!

WISH Community School

WISH Community School celebrates Cultural Diversity: An American Adventure! As a nation of immigrants, they are proud to celebrate the diversity within their school, their city and their country this Independence Day! Their entry focuses on sharing the unique backgrounds and cultures that are woven together into the fabric of our great nation.

The children of WISH Community School celebrate the diversity of various Los Angeles areas including Little Tokyo, Chinatown, Olvera Street, Little India, Koreatown, Little Ethiopia, Leimert Park Village, Thai Town and Little Armenia.

WISH is a free, public independent charter school with small class sizes, differentiated instruction, strong family partnerships and an affiliation with LMU’s School of Education.

WISH grades TK–5 co-locate on the Orville Wright campus and WISH Middle grades 6-8 co-locate with Cowan Elementary.

WISH Academy High School opens this year with their inaugural 9th grade class, and it will co-locate with Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnet. WISH is proud to be an active member of this diverse community!

LAX Coastal Chamber Chair Liz Hall & Honorary Mayor Garrett Smith Please give a warm welcome to LAX Coastal Chamber Chair Liz Hall and Honorary Mayor Garrett Smith. Liz is the General Manager of the Inn at Playa del Rey, and she is actively involved in her community.

She is a proud member of the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary, often volunteers at the Found Animals’ kitten foster program and is looking forward to her year as Chair!

Riding with Liz today is her godchildren, Kayla and Brayden Bullen.

Garrett is a community volunteer extraordinaire, as well as owner of Communications A La Carte. While he might be uncomfortable in the spotlight, we are proud to recognize his efforts and happy to have him as this year’s Honorary Mayor!

Riding with Garrett is his wife, Trish. On

behalf of the leadership of the LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce, we wish everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July!

St. Jerome School

Here is Saint Jerome School, led by Principal Priscilla Doorbar and Father Bill Bolton, the parish pastor. Their entry’s theme is “Enjoying our National Parks.”

Students who have earned Junior Park Ranger badges are carrying a sign showing that organization’s motto: “Explore, Learn, Protect.”

The other marchers are depicting various activities that visitors can participate in at our National Parks. We encourage you to visit our America treasures: our national parks and monuments! And remember to explore, learn, and protect! Have a happy Fourth of July.

Grand Marshal Uncle Sam Ladies and gentlemen, please join us in greeting one of the great icons of America— Uncle Sam! Our national anthem and Uncle Sam were both created during one of America’s darkest periods: the War of 1812. When faced with adversity, the American people always find a way to persevere and rally the troops. When we needed him most, Uncle Sam brought hope to our nation, and today he represents the national pride we all feel, especially today!

Uncle Sam WANTS YOU, to have a wonderful holiday!

All parade photos by Glenn Marzano.

Welcome our national anthem singer Kenneth “Donovan” Guiga graduated 8th grade last month from Visitation School.

He loves music and has been developing his vocal technique for the past 9 years with the National Children’s Chorus.

Donovan also excels in acting and musical theater, and he has performed for different theaters in Los Angeles, New York City and London.

He enjoys composing, producing and spinning his own music and studies playing the keyboard. Despite this busy schedule and the many hours he devotes to music weekly, he is an avid bike rider and swimmer.

He also enjoys living near the beach.

Donovan is returning to the L.A. Opera this summer to perform, and he will be attending Loyola High School in the fall.

Donovan auditioned to sing in this year’s parade by submitting a Youtube video to the Parade Committee in April. While more than a dozen talented

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singers auditioned, the committee was wowed by his vocals, confidence and stage presence and selected him to start off the parade. Two other exceptional local singers who submitted videos were invited to perform at the Teacher Eddy Awards and at ChamberFest.

The Parade Committee starts looking for a National Anthem singer in the spring, so if you or someone you know is interested in auditioning next year, please look for the announcement in the HomeTown News.

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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

4th of July Parade Program

July 2017 • Page 21

This year’s parade participants

Redondo Union High School Marching Band The Redondo Union Band and Guard from Redondo Beach is under the direction of band director Raymundo Vizcarra and student leadership Alexander Delperdang, Carly Stock, Noah Stahder, Jake Beuken, Julian Qwevedo and Sam White.

The Redondo Union Band and Guard has recently had four stellar years with their band director, winning numerous awards, as well as recently performing at Carnegie Hall this past March.

Seeking to continue their success, the Redondo Union Band and Guard will be taking their marching show, “Atlantis” to the CSBC marching band competition circuit in hopes of becoming both division and grand champions.

Participating in the LAX Coastal Fourth of July Parade for the third year, the Redondo Union Band and Guard performs modern day pop songs to add to the happy and celebratory mood brought by the Fourth of July.

The band wishes you all a wonderful Fourth of July. Have a Redondo day!

Westchester Elks Lodge 2050 The Westchester Elks Lodge is a nonprofit organization with approximately 300 members that contribute countless hours and donations to many local, state and national programs. A

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few of their causes include aid to children with disabilities, the Boys and Girl Scouts, athletic teams, college scholarships and Veterans.

The Elks have numerous events open to the public, including today’s annual 4th of July BBQ happening right after the parade! Save the date for the annual Classic Car Show and Chili Cook Off on Saturday, September 9!

This year the Westchester Elks Lodge celebrates its 60th anniversary and 60 years of serving the community.

Be sure to visit them at their next event!

The Lodge is located at 8025 W. Manchester Ave. in Playa del Rey.

Westchester Little League

Westchester Little League (WLL) has provided youth baseball for the children residing or attending school in our community since 1954.

Carl E. Nielsen Youth Park is the home of this little league, which averages more than 200 boys and girls ages 5-12 years, spread throughout four divisions.

Last year’s 2016 10U All-Star team made it to the state sub-division, finishing 3rd in California. Come support our four All-Star teams this summer, along with the returning group that will now move to the 11U All-Star team to defend their title.

For more info, visit westchesterll.org.

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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

4th of July Parade Program

July 2017 • Page 23

This year’s parade participants Westchester Lutheran Church & School (WLCS) Westchester Lutheran Church has been a part of the Westchester community for 74 years. The school, which is preschool through eighth grade, was organized 67 years ago.

WLCS has been involved with the Westchester 4th of July parade since its inception and is happy to be a part of this special community event.

Congratulations to WLCS student, Emily Yeow, for submitting the theme chosen for this year’s parade: “An American Adventure!”

In keeping with this year’s parade theme, the WLCS float theme was created by 3rd grade student Luke Garr. Luke suggested that the Space Race, where John F. Kennedy challenged the United States to put a man on the moon before the end of the decade, was a great American adventure!

On July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong, Commander of Apollo 11, safely piloted the lunar module Eagle to the moon. As Neil stepped out of the EAGLE, he stated one of his most famous one-liners, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin spent two and a half hours on the moon, and together they planted the American Flag. Armstrong was filming as Buzz Aldrin stepped back and saluted the American flag, which is depicted here on our float. They also left a plaque on the moon, which reads, “Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the moon. July 1969. We came in peace for all mankind.”

This American Adventure was celebrated throughout the entire world as it aired live on TV in front of over ½ billion people. Our float represents a moment in time where the entire planet came together under a unified goal of peace and exploration. This is a critical moment that we will always honor as it shows the strength of a unified planet with a goal of space exploration in the name of peace. In this spirit of world peace, we wish all of the families of Westchester a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Westchester Parents Nursery School Westchester Parents Nursery School is a

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co-op, play-based preschool that offers a TPK program. The school has been a part of this community for over 60 years, and they have had nearly 9,000 children and parents come through the program.

Today they are riding, scooting and drumming with students, teachers, parents and alumni.

WPNS will be moving to a new location in the summer of 2018, and they look forward to a continuous partnership and involvement with the community.

For more information about their school and programs, visit wpns.org or call the school at (310) 670-5522.

nity,” guides their adventure train in all of their endeavors. This year, the EACG partnered with the Westchester Farmers’ Market to bring you current and future generations of gardeners!

Learn more about the EACG at eacgc.com.

The Westchester Farmers’ Market is held every week, Sundays in the heart of Westchester’s Downtown Triangle, located at 6200 W. 87th St. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wednesdays in Westchester Park from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The market is sponsored by Westchester Vitalization in community partnership with the Westchester Town Center’s BID. For more info, visit westchesterfarmersmkt. com.

AYSO Region 7

LAX Coastal Education Foundation

It’s called “The Beautiful Game” and in America, that means soccer! It’s the most popular sport in the world and is represented proudly in Westchester and surrounding areas by American Youth Soccer Organization’s Region 7. AYSO kids are wearing their jerseys today and are accompanied by referees who are wearing their various badge level shirts.

Enjoy our Futboleros; those are the guys who do the tricks! It’s not too late to sign-up and our season starts right after Labor Day. Come join us—won’t you? With almost 1,600 players registered, AYSO is the largest youth sporting organization on the Westside. Run by a squad of over 300 volunteers, AYSO invites you to be a part of the preeminent youth sports experience in our community.

We even offer free clinics with professional coaches throughout the season, which starts September 9 with games at Nielsen Park, Playa Vista and St. Bernard High School!

Emerson Avenue Community Garden & Westchester Farmers’ Market

Hop on the train to adventures in gardening, and watch our garden grow!

The Emerson Avenue Community Garden (EACG) Club hosts drum circles and storytelling sessions for kids, movie nights for families, meditation in the garden and classes in gardening, horticulture and special interests to keep your garden and family healthy.

Their motto, “Build a Garden, Grow a Commu-

4th of July Parade Program

Celebrating the biggest “American Adventure” ever–space exploration–this float is a replica of the USA Saturn 5 Rocket! The float is celebrating the “relaunch” of the Westchester/Playa Education Foundation as the new and improved LAX Coastal Education Foundation, which now supports all local schools! The float was sponsored by local neighborhood realtor, Nanci Edwards.

Thanks Nanci for supporting our local schools!

For more info, please visit laxcoastaledfoundation.com.

Del Rey American Little League Del Rey American Little League, or DRALL, was established in 1954. DRALL is little league baseball for boys and girls ages 5 to 12 years old, serving the Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista areas, with facilities in Playa del Rey and Kentwood.

DRALL proudly serves more than 280 children, offering a positive, fun environment for all participants to develop both on and off the field during spring and fall seasons.

For more information about DRALL and the upcoming fall ball season, visit drall.org and follow us on Facebook.

Charro Horses The Chamber is pleased to welcome the Charro International de Compton to today’s parade.

A charro is a skilled Mexican horseman, part of a tradition with origins in the 17th century. The

charros are seen today in traditional costume, with members playing Tamborazo Zacatecano music and riding their famous dancing horses.

The Game Sports Bar Restaurant It’s The Game Sports Bar Restaurant & Lounge! This great establishment is located just east of here, on Manchester Avenue in Westchester, and it’s celebrating its sixth year as a proud member of the community. The Game is your one-stop shop for awesome atmosphere, great service and delicious food.

Their menu is full of fresh home-made items featuring quality ingredients. And with more than twenty big screens, no matter where you sit, you’ll never miss a play!

The Game looks forward to your visit and wishes you a “Happy Fourth of July!”

LAX Coastal Chamber On behalf of the LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce, Chair Liz Hall, Honorary Mayor Garrett Smith, and the 2017 Parade Committee, have a happy and safe Fourth of July! The Chamber staff of Judith Ciancimino, Christina Davis, Chamberlain Duru and Kirby Israelson want to thank you for coming out today to celebrate “An American Adventure.”

The Fourth of July Parade could never happen without the help of a lot of people! So many individuals, organizations, and sponsors deserve our gratitude, but here are a few special thank you’s for making today a worthy celebration: the community; The Parade Committee, starting with chair Gwen Vuchsas, her husband, Jim and their entire family: Sean, Courtney and Courtney’s husband, Brendan. Also, Tony Ciancimino, Liz Hall, Jerry Jen, Stephanie Davis, Larry Israelson, Rob Nelson, Garrett Smith, Jerry Jen and Juliet Oman. We truly appreciate your assistance.

Also, a big thank you to April Hirt for getting the streets closed! Thank you to LMU for the use of the campus and setting up the bleachers! We could never do it without you! And, of course, thank you to our wonderful announcers along the parade route: Davis Voss, Geoff Maleman and Larry Israelson! Thank you for coming and, we’ll see you again next year! Happy Fourth of July!

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

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

4th of July Parade Program

July 2017 • Page 25

Meet your Parade Theme Contest Winner For the second year in a row, the Fourth of July Parade Committee has asked the community for help to select the theme for the Fourth of July Parade. Coming up with a new patriotic theme every year that inspires great floats is not an easy task, and over the years, the parade’s themes have included “California Dreaming,” “Hometown Patriotism,” and “An American Beach Party,” among others.

The Parade Committee is happy to have started a new tradition and has been delighted with the suggestions that fill their inboxes once they ask for ideas.

This year’s theme was chosen

by Emily Yeow, who will be entering eighth grade this fall at Westchester Lutheran Middle School.

Emily came up with the idea for “An American Adventure,” thanks to her dog, Sandy, who she loves taking for walks and exploring the neighborhood.

Emily is active in local sports and plays club volleyball. She is

also a black belt in Taekwondo!

Some of her other hobbies include reading, baking and spending time at the beach swimming and riding her bike. She was born and raised in Westchester and says she “wouldn’t want to live anywhere else!”

Pictured: Emily recently spent a week camping at Yosemite National Park with her Westchester Lutheran Middle School classmates and said the trip was “a great American adventure!”

An American Adventure Can Start in Your Own Backyard!

435 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey innatplayadelrey.com Page 26 • July 2017

4th of July Parade Program

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

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

4th of July Parade Program

July 2017 • Page 27

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4th of July Parade Program

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

Secret recipes from the Inn: Patriotic Pound Cake Every Fourth of July, I hear a lot of folks say, “I’m proud to be an American!” I know what they mean, but I often tailor that well-known sentence by saying, “I’m grateful to be an American.” I alter that sentence because I associate “being proud” with having done hard work, and I didn’t do anything difficult to become an American. I was simply born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Literally, all I did was show up!

Some of the Inn Crowd was born in the United States–other staff members had to take incredibly daunting and vigorous paths to be able to live and work in the land of the free. These staff members are now American citizens. When they told me the questions on their naturalization test, I could only answer about half of the questions.

These work friends all studied really hard for this test and when they passed, they beamed with pride.

My friends from other countries enrich my life by kindly and gently serving as a reminder of how much it means to get to live in America.

Our country is not perfect, and we still need to significantly improve in several areas, but because of my friends who immigrated to the US,

• 2 tbsp. vanilla • 2 pints strawberries • 2 cups blueberries • 1 tub of Cool Whip 1. Combine butter and sugar.

2. Add half of the flour and half of the milk and mix.

3. Add eggs and mix.

4. Add remaining flour, vanilla and milk. Mix. 5. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until done.

6. Let pound cake cool completely.

7. Top pound cake with half of your strawberries and half of your blueberries.

8. Completely cover this layer of fruit with Cool Whip.

9. Use the remaining strawberries and blueberries as decorations to create the USA flag.

10. Enjoy!

The Inn’s recipes have been lovingly collected over the past 20 years. Some are original recipes, others are wellknown recipes that have been adapted, and some are recipes that have been handed down by our innkeeper’s mothers and grandmothers over the years.

Rebecca Hill is an innkeeper at the Inn at Playa del Rey and a published writer. Her stories have appeared in Redbook magazine and in over a dozen Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies.

Photo by Kristin Guinn.

By Rebecca Hill

This light, easy cake is always a crowd-pleaser thanks to its colorful appearance.

I no longer take my freedoms for granted, nor do I turn a blind eye when I feel our freedoms are being encroached upon.

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July, and hopefully you’ll celebrate with a patriotic pound cake!

Patriotic Pound Cake Ingredients: • 1 ½ cups salted butter • 3 cups sugar • 3 ½ cups flour • 5 eggs • 1 cup milk

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

July 2017 • Page 29

Random Notes/Opinion

TheHTN.com

5 things no one tells you about weight loss

By Jeff Blair

easy” results. This marketing is attractive for obvious reasons.

We would all rather achieve “fast and easy” results than achieve results “slowly with effort.” “Slowly with effort” just doesn’t have much of a ring to it, does it? The problem with “fast and easy” results is they also disappear “fast and easy.” Losing weight and keeping it off requires behavioral change and that takes time and effort.

Accept it and you can move forward and achieve permanent success. Avoid that reality and you may keep spinning your wheels indefinitely.

2. Understand our bodies and minds are programmed to eat. Humans have been on earth for 200,000 years or so. For the majority of that time, the number one challenge facing people was starvation.

Then about 50 years or so ago, our “food environment” completely changed. Fast food became common place. Portion sizes began to increase dramatically. Overall economic conditions continued to improve.

We can now drive down the street and find endless opportunities to consume excess calories. Starvation is no longer a threat for you and me, but our bodies and minds still act as if it is so we often overeat when the environment offers extra calories.

For most people, controlling the home environment is the key to weight

Opinion: According to the US Center for Disease Control, carrying excess weight increases your risk for a stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.

America’s weight challenge costs us about $190 billion a year in increased health care costs. This totals about 21% of American health care expenditures.

Watch television for a few hours and you will probably see some type of weight loss ad. Surf the internet for a while and you are almost certain to come across several weight loss promotions.

It is estimated that Americans spend over $60 billion a year trying to lose weight (according to U.S. News & World Report). Whether the actual number is a little lower or a little higher, there is no question we spend a lot of money on weight loss.

While different organizations provide different success rates, The American Society of Clinical Nutrition says about 20% of people succeed at weight loss by maintaining their weight for at least one year.

What can you do to increase your chances of success? Here are a few ideas: 1. Accept that losing weight is a long-term project and requires effort.

Most weight loss ads promise “fast and

loss success. Remove high calorie, non-nutritious food from your environment and your likelihood of success increases dramatically.

Keep it in your house and you are likely to eat it.

3. Your mind and body hate crash diets. When you go on a crash diet, your body and mind will rebel. One landmark study showed completely healthy people developed a variety of psychological problems when placed on a crash diet.

On a crash diet, nearly 20% of the weight loss can be muscle loss. This is guaranteed to slow and potentially wreck your metabolism in the long run.

People who struggle with healthy eating habits are prone to overreact in the other direction when a crash diet ends. These people tend to binge eat as soon as the crash diet ends.

4. If crash diets are so bad for us, why do people continue to follow them? In my opinion, there are several reasons. For one, crash diets have a “finish line.” Rather than face the challenge of changing our habits slowly, the crash diet promises we can get it done in 30 days. Then we can go back to our old eating habits. We want to view weight loss as something we can check off our to-do list when it really takes commitment and effort.

Secondly, many people develop various emotional attachments to

certain comfort foods. Removing these foods can make people uncomfortable.

Finding healthier ways (friends, exercise, meditation, etc.) to deal with the stresses of life should be part of your long-term solution.

5. Losing weight requires eating less calories consistently. I have never seen anyone succeed long-term without reducing calorie intake. Change can be hard, and this may require cutting back on the wine at night or making other adjustments.

This can be tough for people to accept. For various reasons, we think a different exercise program, eating more frequently or some other approach is the answer. I recommend reducing calorie intake 250-500 calories below your metabolic rate.

While losing weight is not easy, it can improve your quality of life in numerous ways. Make a commitment today and see your life change for the better.

Before you start any fitness or nutrition plan, 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.

Rotary Global Scholar (cont’d) (continued from page 8) This program will allow Dial to accomplish an independent research project in infectious disease intervention strategies from epidemiological, economic, social and political lenses.

The program differs from a traditional PhD in that a research project is accompanied by student integration into London’s public health organizations and consortiums to enhance practical public health application.

Her first year of study, funded by the Rotary Global Grant Scholarship, will consist of coursework and policy analysis. Years two and three of the program will include development of her thesis, as well as a community project on neglected tropical diseases, which Natalie anticipates will take place in Mozambique.

Her primary goal, she said, is to explore new and better ways to control and eliminate neglected tropical diseases such as Trachoma, Schistosomiasis, Hookworm, Lymphatic Filarasis and Onchocerciasis through population-based medicine that helps treat and prevent the spread of disease over large groups.

“No one knows these populations better than the people who live there, on the ground,” said Dial, who plans to work closely with the Mozambique Rotary Club. “I’m looking forward to interacting and collaborating with Page 30 • July 2017

the people who live in these populations.”

As part of her analysis, she says she wants to look at the Rotary model for connecting diverse groups and developing funding and matching funding models for raising the money necessary to treat these diseases.

“I’m excited to draw on the Rotary strategies,” Dial told the members of the Rotary Club of Westchester at a presentation in June. “You’ve all done some amazing, inspiring things.

It’s pretty amazing and unique how Rotary works.”

Rotary, a worldwide service organization, and its partners are responsible for a 99.9 percent reduction in cases of polio since it first began vaccinating children in the Philippines in 1979. Since then, Rotarians have helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries. For as little as $0.60, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life. Today, the disease remains endemic in three countries–Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan–although other countries remain at risk for imported cases.

“We are so excited to support Natalie in her efforts,” said Westchester Rotary Club’s 2017-2018 President Judy Delavigne. “We know that she will truly change the world with her work.”

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

Declaring independence from negative chatter

By Fay Craton Opinion: From its inception, Independence Day has been celebrated with fireworks, parades, music, sharing good food, and red, white and blue decorations. It’s a time when traditions bind people together with healthy, and sometimes not so healthy, social connections. It has long been an opportunity to come together to honor our past, while creating new memories that can be reflected upon in the future.

Healthy interactions with other people help create meaning in life.

Healthy interactions require understanding and accepting who you are combined with sharing the “unique you” in a manner that makes a positive contribution to others. It also means being receptive to what people around you are sharing. You do this by paying attention, by listening and by creating opportunities to be present for others.

It is a dance of balanced give and take.

Fourth of July events offer many opportunities to join with others to practice building healthy relationships.

Humans are basically very communal beings. Traditions within a community give a wonderful opportunity to practice a balanced give and take within very familiar situations. After all, we have been doing the same traditions every year with few variations. What

interferes in building healthy connection with others is the actions that many people are driven by: internal chatter going on within their heads about not being good enough, not sufficient enough, memories of hurtful words and actions and other negative judgments that act as blocks from achieving healthy interactions.

It is the pain of believing the internal dialogue, which leads people to push others away, to misuse substances and to engage in self-destructive behaviors.

Sometimes, the worst bully is what you say to yourself. As a result of past behavior, it could be that you have damaged significant relationships. A way to re-establish connections is to stop the downward spiral caused by harmful words and actions. Start by being honest with yourself and with others about your behaviors. You may need to gain professional assistance.

John Adams, one of our country’s founding fathers, wrote in a letter to his wife that the deciding vote to proclaim independence “…ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance…with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” More than two hundred and forty years later, we are still celebrating Independence Day,

but this day can be about more than gaining independence as a country. It can be about breaking away from the internal mind chatter that keeps you from experiencing healthy interactions.

Your internal dialogue may tell you independence is about first satisfying yourself, being self-contained and depending upon your own resources. The truth is, to live a life separate from others can lead to being isolated, physically ill and cause emotional pain.

Being fully engaged in healthy give and take relationships leads to a balanced and happy life.

A question I am frequently asked is: “How do I stop the mind defeating internal chatter?” Stopping the chatter requires being mindful of: your thoughts; what is actually happening around you; building positive self-esteem and creating new patterns of thinking. It requires making a personal choice that you are more than the conditioning you have experienced. You can change the kinds of choices you make at any time. As you change your thinking, how you respond to people and situations also changes. The process normally takes time and considerable self-reflection.

While making this shift in thinking, you may wish to do some reading. A good author is Brenè Brown, who has written several excellent books on

this topic. One of the many ideas she has shared is, “I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness–it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.”

Guidance and support while making personal life changes is important.

Reading is one of the ways to gain guidance. When looking for support, seek out people with experience in making this type of change.

My wish for you is to have healthy relationships and a life of meaning. I encourage you to declare your independence from undermining mind chatter. You do not need to be your own enemy. Much too often, mind chatter keeps us from healthy interactions, which help lead to a meaningful life. Ask yourself, “What choices am I ready to make to experience happiness?” It is time to celebrate, not only this country’s independence, but also independence from unhealthy behaviors and thinking. This time, you get to cast your vote and choose the life you wish to lead.

Fay Craton, M.A. is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (mfc40011), which is the psychology license specializing in relationships (with ourselves or with others) and she has an office in Westchester. For more info, visit communicationtriangle.com or contact her at (310) 645-6762.

2017 - August 6, September 3, October 1, and October 29 2018 - January 7, February 4, and March 4 Early Bird Games start at 1:30pm | Regular Games at 2pm Early Bird Pack $5 | Regular Game Pack $25

First Sunday of Every Month (Except November and December)!

Special Date: October 29, 2017

Westchester Elks Lodge, 8025 Manchester Ave., PdR | Check our Facebook for event info @ facebook.com/westchester.elks Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

July 2017 • Page 31

TheHTN.com Photo by Angela Clouse.

Business & Nonprofit News

HLN anchor Carol Costello (at podium) installs the new chamber board at its June 9 Installation Gala at the Marina del Rey Marriott. The board is made up of 34 business leaders that represent both small and large size businesses, and includes representatives from organizations like Los Angeles World Airports, Loyola Marymount University and Otis College of Art and Design.

Historical Society room opens.

A room dedicated to the history of Westchester and Playa del Rey celebrated its grand opening on Sunday, June 18. Dubbed “Westchester’s Jewel and Playa’s Treasure presented by the Westchester/Playa Historical Society,” the small storefront is located in the Westchester Triangle and will be open Sundays during the Westchester Farmers’ Market from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Currently on display are photos celebrating “Westchester in the 1940s and 1950s,” old yearbooks from local schools, newspaper clippings, scrap books from the long closed Airport Junior High and other memorabilia from the Westchester/Playa Historical Society’s archives.

The display and theme of the room will be changed quarterly.

Volunteers are currently being sought to help organize the society’s collection, as well as staff the room during the farmers’ market.

Donations of memorabilia, including pictures, yearbooks, items from local businesses, banners and trinkets that help tell the story of Westchester and Playa del Rey are also being sought.

For more info about volunteering or donations, please call (310) 6455151.

Westchester’s Jewel and Playa’s Treasure is located at 6205 W. 87th Street in Westchester.

Page 32 • July 2017

Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation President, Karen Dial (center), and volunteers cut the ceremonial ribbon at the grand opening of the historical society room. The location and furnishings were donated by the foundation.

Playa del Rey resident reappointed to Board of Airport Commissioners.

Longtime Playa del Rey resident, Valeria Valasco, was recently appointed to another term on the Board of Airport Commissioners for Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). The seven member board is responsible for forming airport policy at LAX and is appointed by the mayor to serve five-year terms.

Valasco was first appointed to the board in 2005, and her latest appointment, which runs through June 30, 2022, will make her the longest serving Commissioner in LAWA’s history. She currently serves as Vice President of the board.

Chamber welcomes new leadership.

The LAX Coastal Chamber installed its new board of directors at an Installation Gala held at the Marina del Rey Marriott on Friday, June 9.

Inn at Playa del Rey General Manager, Liz Hall, will serve as the new Board Chair, and she has named Garrett Smith as her Honorary Mayor.

The board was sworn in by HLN anchor Carol Costello.

The event also celebrated the 2017 Leadership Academy graduate class and outstanding local businesses.

Artists sought for Utility Box Mural Project. Interested in helping beautify the community? The Neighborhood

Council of Westchester/Playa, the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club and other community groups are currently looking for artists to participate in a Utility Box Mural Project, that would see drab gray utility boxes throughout the community transformed into mini murals. The painted utility boxes would be located on major thoroughfares in Westchester and Playa del Rey. An official application for those interested in participating will be available later this summer, but those interested in applying can email westchesterplayaart@gmail.com to be added to the interest list. The Utility Box Mural Project is slated to begin in early fall.

Community Pizza Bake. Have you ever wanted to cook your own pizza in a blazing hot earthen oven? The community is invited to a Pizza and Bread Bake at Westchester’s Wood-Fired Community Oven. Bring pizza dough from home or the store, and you can roll them out, add your favorite toppings and watch them cook to bubbly perfection in a minute and a half.

This traditional earthen oven is blazing hot from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to cook what may be the best pizza you’ve ever tasted, and the oven is ready for bread loaves at 2 p.m. The pizza bake will take place on Saturday, July 8 at 11:30 a.m. in the garden of Holy Nativity, located at 6700 W. 83rd St. in Westchester.

(continued on next page)

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

The Westchester Woman’s Club’s new board includes (from left to right) Susan Nash, Gail Theodore, Joan Brunckhurst and Joann Duray. The club, which recently celebrated 75 years in existence, meets monthly at Tony P’s Dockside Grill.

Local resident raises money to end polio. Westchester resident, Rob DeCou, will be the keynote speaker at the Rotary District Breakfast on Tuesday, July 18.

With the goal of helping “End Polio Now,” DeCou will run from Death Valley to the Portal of Mt. Whitney over a two-day period in August to raise money for the debilitating disease. Since 1988, Rotary International has made eradicating polio one if its global initiatives.

At the breakfast, DeCou will share the details of his upcoming journey.

The breakfast will take place on Tuesday, July 18 at the Crowne Plaza LAX Hotel, located at 5985 W. Century Blvd. in Westchester.

The cost to attend is $38, when you RSVP by July 11. RSVPs can be made at office@rotary5280.org or by calling (310) 670-9792.

58th Annual Westchester Begonia Society Sale. The Westchester Branch of the American Begonia Society will hold its 58th Annual Begonia Show and Sale on Saturday, July 15.

The event is the only judged begonia show in Southern California and will showcase begonias, ferns, orchids, bromeliads, aroids and other shade loving plants. A selection of begonias,

both species and hybrids, and other plants and gifts will be available for purchase.

Admission and parking are free.

The event will run Saturday, July 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, located at 6323 W. 80th Street in Westchester.

Westchester Woman’s Club celebrates anniversary. The Westchester Woman’s Club, which recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, rounded out its fiscal year by awarding $15,000 in scholarships and donating almost $90,000 to charities. The club, which meets monthly at Tony P’s Dockside Grill, also announced its 2017-2018 board, which includes President Susan Nash; Vice President Gail Theodore; Secretary/Trustee Joan Brunckhurst; and Treasurer Joann Duray.

The club is on break for the summer, and will resume meetings in September. For more information on joining the club, please call Gail Theodore at (310) 574-6093.

Have something to celebrate? We want to hear about your business or nonprofit! Email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com.

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July 2017 • Page 33

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Hundreds of community members made their way to Playa Vista’s CenterPointe Club to visit with 80 local businesses, nonprofits and community organizations at the annual ChamberFest LAeXpo on June 22nd.

The free event combines a networking mixer, Taste Of and business expo with a fun, festive Page 34 • July 2017

atmosphere.

Ten local restaurants, including Tony P’s Dockside Grill, The Proud Bird and the Game Sports Bar Restaurant and Lounge, provided samples of some of their favorite dishes, and raffles, giveaways and freebies were abundant.

The event is held every June to help promote local businesses and kick-off

the summer season.

Pictured: 1. Visitors peruse the expo tables and meet with local business leaders.

2. Third-grader Orla O. performs the National Anthem in front of an impressed crowd.

3. Tony P’s Dockside Grill co-owners Tony Palermo and Danny Ringwood serve up pulled pork

sandwiches and tropical drinks.

4. DJ Brian George of Amplified Source Entertainment spins the hits in the indoor portion of the expo.

5. Crowd favorite Benny’s Tacos serves up quesadillas to hungry customers.

6. Audiologist Dr. Robin Mock, Concierge Hearing Group, exams the ears of five-year-old Makayla M.

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

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

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