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

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NEWS

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista

November

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Incumbents keep their seats on Neighborhood Council board The Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa held its elections on Sunday, October 28. While 16 of the board’s 31 seats were up for re-election, only six seats were contested. Of those six seats, which included residential seats and the Community Organization Director, all of the incumbents–John Loizeau, Denny Schneider, Alex Eychis, Nora Maclellan, David Voss– kept their positions. New members voted on to the board include Gregory Heffernan, a local high school teacher; Alexandra Bissonnette, a teacher and local volunteer; Matthew Parrish, a college student and Heal the Bay and Upward Bound House

volunteer and Scott Carni, a real estate agent and president of the Westchester Park Advisory Board. While elections for many neighborhood councils throughout the city were held over the weekend, the turnout was not great in any particular precinct by voters. In the Del Rey Neighborhood Council election, one seat only had three votes cast. The person won their seat with only two votes. Said Westchester/Playa Neighborhood Council President Cyndi Hench, “Our voter turnout was less than we have seen in the past and I attribute that to a couple of things. What I believe drives people to vote is

when they are unhappy with the job that is being done by their electeds. In the case of the NCWP election this year, all of the incumbents who ran won. This tells me that people are happy with the job that we are doing. We do not currently have big contentious issues, aside from LAX, or dissatisfaction with the NC. I think this is a good thing.” Hench also points out that historically elections have been held on multiple days and at multiple locations, while this year’s election was held on a Sunday at the Westchester Community Room. This is not convenient to many who may want to vote, but are unable to due to work or family obligations.

“More than having more voters, I would like to see more folks involved with our neighborhood council and its committees. I would like to see the community more engaged in the NC and providing feedback about what is important to them,” said Hench. “This would help to steer how we prioritize our efforts... Neighborhood Councils are made up of volunteers from the community and it works best when that is a good mix of non-board members along with board members”. For more info on the new Neighborhood Council of Westchester/ Playa board members, please view page 24.

YMCA hopes to build momentum for remodel with welcome center Construction has begun at the Westchester Family YMCA in hopes of giving the more than fifty year old building, located at 8015 S. Sepulveda Blvd., some new life. The construction is part of a complete renovation being done to the facility’s lobby, which is being transformed into a welcome center. The previous space was often crowded and overflowing with members waiting to enter the YMCA for classes, swimming and to workout. The original lobby was only 450 square feet, while the new welcome center will be more than double that size at 1,035 square feet and will also hold three offices. The offices will be used by healthy lifestyle coordinators and membership directors, who will be readily available to assist members. Said YMCA Director of Development and Communications, Blair McBirney, “We hope the welcome center provides a community gathering place. We want it to look welcoming and open. We want to see this place shine and we want to put our best face forward.” When the welcome center is completed in December of this year,

it will also contain a juice bar. The juice bar will be yet another addition to help enforce and promote healthy lifestyles at the YMCA. The plan is to name the juice bar “Ella’s Place,” after Ella Drollinger. Drollinger is the grandmother of Karen Dial, whose family has been a longtime supporter of the Westchester Family YMCA. A donation by the Drollinger family enabled the YMCA to pay off the debt for acquiring the Woman’s Building, now know as the YMCA annex. The welcome center is just the first of many upgrades that the YMCA hopes to make to its facility in the coming years. Other plans in the pipeline include knocking down the stone wall in the front of the building to create a more open and welcome atmosphere. McBirney states that the YMCA hopes that the first major remodel to the building will “create a buzz for the grander vision” of improvements to the building. McBirney points to longtime supporters Bernie and Jim Horst as the catalysts needed to kick-off the (continued on page 4)

At left: A rendering of what the front of the YMCA will look like with new seating, landscaping and the brick wall taken down. RENDERING COURTESY PETER M. MITSAKOS & ASSOCIATES.

A look inside your

HomeTown

6 Playa Vista Elementary School celebrates opening 12 Halloween Town Fair Photos

giving

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Please Join in Donating Toys to St. Margaret’s Center

Join Visitation School in the spirit of giving by donating new, unwrapped toys to St. Margaret’s Center for their annual Christmas Program. Every year, St. Margaret’s Center, just a stone’s throw away from Westchester, donates thousands of toys to needy children. Visitation is helping in this effort, by asking the community to help spread holiday cheer to the less fortunate. A drop box for toys is located at the school, at 8740 Emerson Ave. in Westchester. Toys should be valued between $15-$25 and toys for babies and tweens are especially needed. Toys will be collected through Thursday, December 13th, Mondays through Thursdays from 9am -2pm and Fridays from 9am to 11am. Those interested in donating can also visit amazon.com, choose “wish list” from the blue tab in the upper right corner and in the “find someone’s list” type in St. Margaret’s Center. Toys can be bought and shipped directly to the center. For more info, please contact Terry O’Connor at (310) 994-9904 or at terry.oconnor2012@gmail.com.

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November 2012

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

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T h i s M o n t h B r i n g s Yo u November Features YMCA builds momentum with new welcome center 4 4 Rotary accepting applications for scholarships 6 Playa Vista Elementary School celebrates opening 8 Volunteers help plant trees on Sepulveda Community Calendar/To Do 16-17 In Pictures 22

Monthly Features Community Random Notes/Opinion Looking Back... To Do

Calendar Happenings Pictures Business and Professional

Submit Submit articles, pictures and letters to the editor at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com. Be sure to include your name and contact information (phone number, address and e-mail) and correctly spell names of all those involved. All materials must be submitted no later than 12 noon on the 22nd of each month. The HomeTown News reserves the right to edit all submissions for content and length.

HOMETOWN STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS

t a t i d n u o f We ! r e t n e C n w o T r e t s e h Westc – GAIL & JOHN RUHLEN

Stephanie Davis, Publisher, Editor Fay Craton, Contributing Writer David “Duke” Dukesherer Sr., Looking Back

Nora Lee Owens, Humor Mishele Vieira, Contributing Writer Jack Younger, Contributing Cartoonist

Advertisers’ Directory

Business & Professional 21 Ballerini Cooley Studios 07 Covenant Presbyterian Church 09 Drollinger Properties 06, 11 Food Pantry, LAX 09 Gateway to LA 23 Jane St. John 19 Kevin and Kaz Gallaher 18 Laura and Jack Davis 19 Loyola Marymount University 16 Nora Lee Owens 19 Neighborhood Council 24 Providence Medical Institute 15 Rainbow Acres 23

South Bay Brokers St. Bernard High School Urbansitter.com Vergari & Associates Visitation School Waterside Marina del Rey Westchester Christian Church Westchester First Friday Westchester Little League Westchester Lutheran Westchester Town Center BID Westchester/Playa Village Westside Neighborhood School Zacha Homes

“From eyes to teeth and skin to toes and even massage, Westchester Town Center doctors take care

20 22 07 23 02 05 20 08 09 06 03 04 08 18

of all that ails us. Curves is around the corner and the YMCA is up the street, so we can honestly say that Westchester Town Center does a body good.”

About The HomeTown News The HomeTown News is a monthly 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 LA, CA 90045 Phone: (310) 641-1016 Email: westchesterhometown@yahoo.com or htn@thehtn.com Website: http://www.thehtn.com Facebook: Search the Westchester/Playa del Rey HomeTown News

The deadline for submissions is the 22nd of the month.

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If you normally receive the HTN at your home, and for whatever reasons your paper is missing or damaged, please call (310) 641-1016 or westchesterhometown@yahoo.com. November 2012 Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News

www.westchestertowncenter.com

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Community

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YMCA remodel (continued) (continued from page 1) improvements at the YMCA. Thanks to their donation, YMCA staffers were able to fundraise for additional dollars to help make the new welcome center a reality. The Hannon Foundation and Marty Francis then both stepped up with sizeable donations, which enabled the construction to get started. Said Karen Bradley Follette, “The Y today is focused in the community, and strengthening the foundation of our town, neighborhoods and homes. Whether a program member, facility member or community member, the Y is open to all people. It has been for fifty years a hub for families, youth and adults. And we are working to be even more welcoming with our renovations. Together with staff and other volunteers, the board of the Westchester Family Y is looking at how we can be more visible and impactful in all we do– inside our building or at one of our many locations in the community and campuses.” Both McBirney and YMCA Executive Director Karen Bradley Follette point out the immeasurable support laid out by their board members to make this project come to fruition. With the help of one board member, Peter

Mitsakos, who Bradley Follette calls a “hero,” the YMCA has been able to save potentially tens of thousands of dollars. Mitsakos, principal architect at West Edge Architects, has donated his time to serve as lead architect and draw up blue prints and renderings. When the YMCA needed a project manager to oversee the construction, Mitsakos enlisted the help of colleague Ed Kweskin. Kweskin, like Mitsakos, took on the job pro bono. Despite living in Orange County, Kweskin visits the site weekly, wanting nothing more than to give back to the YMCA, which holds fond memories for him. “The YMCA is a terrific organization that does so much for so many different people, I was very happy to help in the way that I can,” said Mitsakos. “We have been working our way through a comprehensive needs assessment, building assessment, strategic planning and programming effort that will lead to a plan for the entire property, including the former Westchester Women’s Club.” Mitsakos encourages the community to be part of the future of the YMCA. Said Mitsakos, “We want to include as many people as possible in that process: members, staff, neighbors,

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November 2012

Construction is hoped to be completed in December. PHOTO COURTESY THE YMCA.

board members and community leaders. We are not done yet and are hoping for ideas and opinions from anyone who wants to give them. We hope to modernize the facility to better support the many activities at the Branch, improve traffic around the property and allow the facility to operate more efficiently and more sustainably in the future.” The YMCA is currently fundraising

for its “Growing Stronger, Together” campaign, which raises money to send underprivileged children to camp and scholarships for memberships. They are also raising money as part of its capitol campaign program, which enables the YMCA to make building improvements. For more info on the YMCA, please visit ymcala.org/Westchester.

Rotary accepting applications for middle school scholarships The Rotary Club of Westchester will be awarding Jim Bunch Memorial Scholarships to eighth graders who reside or attend school in the Westchester, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Del Rey or Marina del Rey areas. The Rotary Club is looking for candidates talented in the fine or performing arts. Applications will be broken up into three different categories: Art: • Entries must be original work, created by the individual contestant. • Art entries must fall into one of the following categories of painting, drawing, photography, ceramic, sculpture or cultural. • Art entries may not exceed 50 inches in any one direction. Dance: • Limited to one soloist. • Style is limited to classic ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop or cultural. • Performance should be 1.5 to 2 minutes in length. • Contestant may bring pre-recorded accompaniment. Music Entry: • Contestant may be a vocalist or instrumentalist. • Musical performance should be 1.5 to 3 minutes in length.

Music entries are limited to 3 minutes in length and may be a vocalist performance or an instrumental.

• Contestants may be accompanied by piano or guitar or may bring prerecorded accompaniment. The deadline for applications is Thursday, December 6. Candidates must be available to perform or display their artistic entry on the afternoon of January 6, 2013 on the campus of Saint Bernard High School, located at 9100 Falmouth Ave. in Playa del Rey. Scholarships in amounts up to $1,000 will be announced at the end of the event. For more information on the competition or to obtain an application, please contact Cozette Vergari at cozetterotary5280@gmail.com.

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

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November 2012

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

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Community

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Playa Vista Elementary celebrates grand opening While Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) board members and employees questioned whether there would be enough children to fill the seats at a school in Playa Vista, its five kindergarten classes in the school’s inaugural class speak volumes for the need for a neighborhood school in that community. Said former LAUSD school board member Marlene Canter, recalling the battle to get Playa Vista on the list of community’s that needed a new school, “The journey was long and my constituents taught me a lot. I had to convince my colleagues that there was a place called Playa Vista and there were actually enough children to go to school here. It took the parents, my constituents and their strollers and many, many pregnant moms and dads, that convinced the school board that ‘yes’ this was going to be a community for children and for families and that they need a school here.” On Monday, October 29, elected officials, including councilman Bill Rosendahl and Congresswoman Maxine Waters, along with LAUSD board members and members of the school community came out to Playa Vista Elementary School to celebrate its grand opening with a program and ribbon cutting. The school opened in August of this year.

Councilman Rosendahl, who has had a complicated history with Playa Vista, including casting a “no” vote on the Village development, which would add homes, office space and a shopping center to the community’s footprint, was on hand to congratulate the school and present the principal with a commendation from the city. This marked a rare appearance for Rosendahl in recent months, who has largely stayed away from community events as he battles cancer. Said Rosendahl, “Congratulations to Playa Vista Elementary School on behalf of the City of Los Angeles on the grand opening of your impressive state of the art facility. I have no doubt that your elementary school will have a positive impact on our community and the in the lives of the countless families in our fair city. May your school educate and develop the minds and bodies of students for generations to come.” According to LAUSD school board member Steve Zimmer, who represents the Westchester/Playa area, the school is the first new neighborhood school built on the Westside in decades. The school is part of LAUSD’s new school construction program, and Zimmer called Playa Vista Elementary “one of the most remarkable school facilities in the United States of

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�� Pictured with Drollinger Properties President Karen Dial �� who is spearheading the Winter Wonderland event.

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include solar panels, use of cross ventilation, recycled carpet, and bicycle racks encouraging the students to bike to school. Said Congresswoman Maxine Waters, “I am very pleased and honored to be able to be here this afternoon. It is so special to have something really good going on– a Los Angeles unified school district we can brag about for a change.”

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America.” It is one of 129 new schools the district has opened under the program. The school, which holds 650 seats and located on 4.08 acres at the base of Loyola Marymount University, is a state of the art facility. The school was built to be environmentally friendly and students gave the roughly 200 people in attendance at the grand opening a performance of the “Stewardship at Playa Vista.” “Green” features at the school

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Playa Vista Elementary school students discuss their sustainability efforts to event attendees.

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Hannon Foundation recognized at gala dinner Founded in Los Angeles in 1982, The Association of Catholic Student Councils (TACSC), a nationwide leadership training program for elementary through high school students attending Catholic schools, celebrated its 30th Anniversary with a gala dinner at Loyola Marymount University. Nearly 200 people attended the October 20th gala, which raised funds for TACSC’s continued operations. More than 17,000 elementary, junior high and high school students from throughout California and across the U.S. have participated in TACSC’s leadership training programs. During the gala, three awards were presented: the Founder’s Award to the William H. Hannon Foundation; the Lifetime Achievement Award to TACSC’s founder Marilyn Thickett and the Partners’ Award to LMU’s School of Education’s Center for Catholic Education. Locally, students at St. Anastasia and St. Jerome Catholic School participated in TACSC. TACSC’s programs include student leadership days, parent/educator evenings, moderator and administrator programs and summer leadership conferences. Students are taught life leadership skills including public speaking, meeting management, collaboration and teamwork, project planning and problem-solving and learn the importance of public service

Fall is Time for Families... Let our Family Capture Yours!

• Holiday Photos • Valentine’s Day • Anniversaries • Newborns, Kids & Grandkids • Hair, Makeup & Styling Included • Individualized Image Consultation Included with Shoot From left to right: Jim Hannon, Vice President, TACSC Board of Directors; Mike Muir, Principal of St. Anastasia Catholic School in Westchester; Kathy Aikenhead, President, William H. Hannon Foundation; and Dr. Shane Martin, Dean, LMU School of Education.

and community volunteerism. For the last three years, TACSC has turned their attention from serving not just student council leaders, but all students that have leadership potential in other areas of life, including sports teams and clubs. “We grow leaders. TACSC has been making profound, permanent and positive change in the lives of Catholic youth for 30 years. The best part is that these young people carry the ‘TACSC toolkit’ with them for life. Our alumni make giving back to their communities central to their lives and careers,” said Gene Detre, TACSC’s Executive Director.

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Donations to LAX food pantry appreciated throughout year November is prime time for food and toy drives for the needy. The LAX Food Pantry is a local organization that takes food donations all year round. The LAX Food Pantry was established in 1985 under the auspices of the Westchester/Ladera Clergy Association and replaced efforts from individual churches, which each handed out food separately. The association continues to support the pantry today. The pantry has a service area that encompasses Westchester, Playa del Rey, Inglewood and Hawthorne and is open Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 to noon. Groceries are given out on a first-come, first-serve basis. Food is given to people from all walks of life that have fallen on hard times; the pantry’s “client” base consists of single people, large families, elderly from the senior day care center next door and a group from a home for the disabled. According to last year’s estimates that there are roughly 15 new people per week who line up for food; and roughly thirteen percent of clients are homeless. On a regular distribution day, volunteers prepare bags of mostly canned food and try to give people food that can fall into a “menu;” for

November 2012

example, people are given the items needed for a chili or beef stew dinner, tuna or macaroni and cheese. Volunteers try to provide nutritionally balanced meals as much as possible, but fresh fruits and vegetables are often at a premium at the pantry. Thanks to groups like Holy Nativity, however, perhaps more vegetables than usual are distributed. The church’s community garden is a primary source of vegetables and “clients” are treated with vegetables like squash, peppers and fennel when they are available. Like other food pantries, the majority of the pantry’s food supply is purchased through a food bank, in this case, the Westside Food Bank, as cheap as ten cents per pound. The rest is mainly donated food from the food industry (super markets) and from food drives. For those without the means to purchase groceries, the pantry serves a vital purpose. For those that are able to donate food, money or their time, however, it poses a non-profit that the community can get behind. For more information on donating, please call (310) 677-5597. The pantry is located at 355 E. Beach Street in Inglewood.

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

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Volunteers help plant new trees along Sepulveda in hopes of making it more walkable On October 20, the Westchester Streetscape Improvement Association facilitated the planting of almost 40 new street trees along Sepulveda Boulevard adjacent to Westchester Lutheran Church and School. The effort was part of the sidewalk repair project that removed a number of problem trees, many with 50year-old root systems that made walking along the broken and uplifted sidewalks nearly impossible. Replacing the ficus trees, notorious for destroying the pavement with their roots, are a collection of Chinese Flame (Koelreuteria bipinnata) trees and Pink Trumpet (Tabebuia avallanadae) trees. Once mature, broad-spreading, deciduous Flame trees will reach a height of 40 to 60 feet and eventually take on a flat-topped, somewhat irregular silhouette. Often used as a shade tree, it will yield small, fragrant, yellow flowers appearing in very showy, dense, clusters in early summer, followed by large clusters of two-inch-long “Chinese lanterns” in late summer or fall. Likewise, the Trumpet trees will produce 1- to 4-inch flowers and can grow 40 to 60 feet tall. Best of all, neither species creates dense root systems that could damage sidewalks and pavement. “We are hoping that this begins

to make Sepulveda not only more beautiful, but also more walkable for the residents of Westchester,” said John Ruhlen, President of WSIA. “After all, there are churches, schools and a YMCA along Sepulveda, so we should be making it was as easy as possible for people to get to these destinations without having to get in their cars.” The LA Conservation Corps and a group of corporate volunteers from Warner Brothers Studios and their family members participated in the Westchester street tree planting project through the company’s Impact Day Volunteers program for significant community service projects. Meghan Shearer is a professional arborist employed by the LA Conservation Corps as the Program Manager for the Million Trees LA Program said, “Not only do these trees enhance the environment of the City of Los Angeles, but they provide paid work experience for Corps employees as they seek to enter the work force. Westchester residents who want to participate in the Million Trees Program by planting free trees at their homes, may do so through www. MillionTreesLA.org website.” Don Duckworth, executive director of the Westchester Town Center BID, said planting the trees was done at no cost except for soil amendments and

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decomposed granite to surround the tree trunks. “This stretch of Sepulveda is really starting to look good!” said Duckworth, who added that the new trees are the same as those planted in the business district. “Sepulveda Boulevard will ultimately be a seamless continuation from the business district to the

residential district, linked by a common landscaping. An attractive entrance to the business district will attract shoppers, enhance the desirability of Westchester Lutheran School and increase the values of the properties in the adjacent neighborhoods.”

WESTCHESTER

FIRST

is at our core

F R I D A Y S

Get Out the Vote!

Food Trucks & Fun!!! 12+ of L.A.’s Best Gourmet Food Trucks Live Music, featuring KJLH and Rhubarb Meringue Pie Beer Garden with lots of tables and chairs Annual LA Regional FoodBank Food Drive Art Show

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Volunteers from Warner Brothers Studios and the LA Conservation Corps help plant new trees along Sepulveda. The old trees were recently replaced with new trees that hopefully won’t ruin the sidewalks and will make that part of Sepulveda more walkable and pedestrian-friendly.

Please help others. Bring canned or packaged foods and place them in our collection boxes. Donate an item for our food drive and receive $0.50 off a $10 purchase at participating trucks.

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www.wnsk8.com 5401 Beethoven St., Los Angeles, CA 90066 90066

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Tues. Nov. 6 9:30am-12pm

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@6200 Block of W. 87th Street, Westchester Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News

Page 9

Looking Back... The Trolley in Playa del Rey

By David J. “Duke” Dukesherer Alphonse and Gaston was an American comic strip by Frederick Burr Opper, featuring a bumbling pair of Frenchmen with a penchant for politeness. They first appeared in William Randolph Hearst’s newspaper, the New York Journal on September 22, 1901 in a strip titled: “Alphonse a la Carte and His Friend Gaston de Table d’Hote.” The strip’s premise was that both were extremely polite, constantly bowing and deferring to each other. That same year, 1901, trolley tracks on the Los Angeles and Pacific Railway, later called the Pacific Electric Line, were joined with new track on the sand at the location of the former Port Ballona, linking the new town of Playa del Rey and Santa Monica to the north, and Redondo Beach to the south. The developer, The Beach Land Company, and several enterprising individuals, built an elaborate amusement area and fishing pier, two hotels and even a bank. Boat races were held at what was then a very large Del Rey Lagoon. A great pavilion was erected and dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, 1904. Although many lots were sold, and a few homes built, most of the area soon fell onto hard times, and it would be many years later that the town was

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developed in earnest as Palisades Del Rey and Surfridge by Fritz Burns and the Dickinson and Gillespie, Co. Of all the failed enterprises, perhaps none were more elaborate than the Funicular Railway at Playa del Rey. Erected in 1905, and operated for just a few years, the railway took passengers from a trolley platform at the foot of the bluffs, to the top of the dunes, then called Mount Ballona. Today, this is near Montreal and Fowling Streets just above the Bistro du Soleil. A funicular railway is partially powered by gravity counterbalancing and pulling ascending and descending cars. With a bit of period jocularity, the developers named the two railcars Alphonse and Gaston in honor of the famous comic strip, as if one cable car was politely asking the other to pass first. The Lagoon Line heading north, just south of Vista del Mar and Culver Boulevards and the Playa del Rey Incline Railway, 1907. Venice passengers joined at its junction with the Redondo Line. A short walk south brought you to the famous cable, or “Funicular” railway, whose cars, “Alphonse” and “Gaston,” carried visitors up the steep palisades to the subdivision laid out on top between 1901 and 1908. The Lagoon Line was traversed regularly by the Balloon Route Trolley Trip cars, which paused for lunch at the wooden pavilion at Playa del Rey. This is the only known photograph of the funicular railway. PHOTO COURTESY BEACH OF THE KING, THE EARLY HISTORY OF PLAYA DEL REY, WESTCHESTER & PLAYA VISTA, CA, AUTHOR.

Come Join Your Friends At

COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Worship Service 10:30 am Canines@Covenant 5:00 pm Sunday Covenant on the Corner 80th and Sepulveda Blvd.

Church School for Young People during Service

Pastor: Rev. Cathy Chisholm

Save Money By Signing-Up at One of Our Early Registration Events in November and December! Join us Tuesday, November 13 from 6:30-8:30 pm at Shakey’s Pizza, 5604 Sepulveda Blvd. in Culver City for Early Bird Sign-Ups! Registration will also be conducted at Nielsen Field located at 6000 Will Rogers St. on the following days: Saturday, December 8th from 10 am to 1 pm Sunday, December 9th from 1 pm to 3 pm Saturday, January 13th from 10 am to 1 pm Sunday, January 13th from 1 pm to 3 pm

We have an Orchestra and Adult, Youth and Children’s Choirs E-mail: cpofﬁs@pacbell.net Childcare is provided- For more information, Call (310) 670-5750

FOOD PANTRY, LAX Emergency Food Distribution to those in need Sponsored by Westchester Clergy Association

Open Tuesdayand andFriday Friday •• 11:00 a.m.toto12 12:30 Open Tuesday 10 a.m. p.m.p.m. (noon) 355 Beach Street, Inglewood

If you have Food to donate, take to Covenant Presbyterian Church or bring to location from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Volunteers and money donations also welcomed and encouraged. For further information, please call (310) 677-5597

Ad donated by Covenant Presbyterian Church

November 2012

Westchester Little League 2013 Season Sign-ups

Westchester

All players signing-up on the 13th will receive a discounted registration fee along with two options for making payment: either a single payment of $150 (more than 15% off) or three monthly payments of $55 (nearly 10% savings). An additional $15 discount will also be given to all new players entering the league.

Don’t miss out on the BEST DEAL IN TOWN!!!

WLL is open to all boys and girls age 6 through 12. Please visit www.WestchesterLL.org for the registration form to ﬁll out, required deposits, and information you’ll need to bring to the sign-ups.

If you have any questions, contact us at playball90045@yahoo.com or contact Jennifer Mulligan at (310) 606-1467. westchesterlittleleague.com • facebook.com/WestchesterLL

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

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Coloring Contest

• your community newspaper • your community newspaper • your community

Holiday Coloring Contest Rules: 1. Color the picture above and feel free to add your own festive holiday scene around the picture. 2. Send this picture back to the HomeTown News at its mailing address by Monday, November 26, 2012. Please include your contact information. You can also scan the picture and email it to westchesterhometown@yahoo.com. Late submissions will not be accepted. The HomeTown News mailing address is: HomeTown News Attn: Coloring Contest, 8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 110 #745; Los Angeles, CA 90045.

November 2012

3. The winning picture will be chosen by the HomeTown News and will be published in the December edition of the paper. A picture of the winner will also be published, if provided. 4. The coloring contest is open to children 3-14 years of age. Contestants must be a resident of Westchester, Playa del Rey, Marina del Rey or Playa Vista or attend a school located in any of these areas.

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

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Thank you to all the sponsors! from Karen Dial and all the ghosts and goblins at Drollinger Properties

in partnership with:

Double Platinum Sponsor:

presented by:

Drollinger P R O P E R T I E S

PLATINUM Anonymous Decron Properties HomeTown News Los Angeles World Airports The Parking Spot GOLD City National Security Services Councilman Bill Rosendahl �� Kentwood Players LAFD – Battalion 4 �� LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce Maleman Ink Public Relations Redondo Union High School ROTC Shoeppner Shows SILVER Ace Party Rentals Clean Streets The Couchois Brothers Band Girl Squad IM5 Band Melody Bar & Grill Mercury Air Group Star Wars Characters – 501st Legion Star Wars Characters – Rebel Legion US Bank November 2012

BRONZE Anonymous Amazing Balloons by Gee Broadway Gymnastics In-N-Out Los Angeles Arts Collective LAPD Cadets LAPD Color Guard NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS The Printing Spot Airport Marina Counseling Center Pure Play Band ARSAC St. Bernard High School Choir Neighborhood Council of Westchester / Playa St. Monica High School Playa Sunrise Rotary Westbluff Realty and Property Management Westchester Playa Village Westchester Lutheran Cheer Squad Westchester Vitalization Westchester YMCA FRIENDS OF THE FAIR Westchester Streetscape Improvement Assn. Arias Ozzello & Gignac LLP The Argonaut SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS Arroyo Insurance Community Outreach & Opportunity Programs Centinela Feed & Pet Supplies St. Monica High School Coldwell Banker Visitation School D.D. Construction WISH Charter School Dracula – Kathy Clements Fantastic Fig & Newton COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTORS Insurance West Joy Banks Le Tip of Westchester Anna and Shannon Cody Rotary of Westchester Lesli Curry Starbucks Peter Kohly – Kohly Insurance Vergari & Associates Bob & Christina Neiwirth Westchester Landscape Garrett Smith Westchester Urban Farm Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News

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November 2012

Halloween Window Painting Competition

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

HALLOWEEN TOWN FAIR PHOTOS BY ANNA CODY.

4th Annual Halloween Town Fair

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November 2012

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

Page 14

Random Notes/Opinion Pick up the HTN at any of the following locations:* Drollinger Building Lobby (8929 and 8939 Sepulveda building) Westchester Family YMCA Covenant Presbyterian Church The Guilded Cage Airport Office Center Medical Office Building Chase Bank The Coffee Co. Lucky Cleaner Ayara Thai Cuisine Ted’s Hair Design Truxton’s American Bistro Soundsations Needlepoints West Westchester Watch Works Bill Rosendahl’s Office Loyola Village Library Senior Center Loyola Village Library Elks Lodge Westchester Watch Works Kentwood Playhouse The Real Estate Consultants Office Dario’s Carpet Tower Pizza Chase Bank Paradise Building LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce Wells Fargo Westchester CenterPointe Club Playa Vista Library Picnik Dinah’s Restaurant Playa Vista Urgent Care Coffee Bean Cantalini’s Emerson Pharmacy Howe’s Liquor Ace Cleaners Coin Laundry Felicia’s Coffee Garden Outlaws The Shack Prince of Wales Tanner’s Coffee Holy Nativity Westchester United Methodist Westchester Christian Church Zacha Homes Airport Marina Counseling Service Burton Chace Park Wagz’ Custom Hotel Playa del Rey Florist El Dorado Bowl Buggy Whip *partial list of drop-offs

To make your business a drop-off location, please email westchesterhometown @ yahoo.com November 2012

• your community newspaper •

LAX and the Endeavour By Nora Lee Owens By now I’ve missed the deadline for commenting on the never-ending LAX expansion possibilities. When I attended the meeting in August, I was sure I would find ten minutes to write something scathing about the option for expanding the north runway outside the existing airport footprint when they had other, better, options. But as much as I wanted to state my opinion on that and join others in our community in opposing that possible infringement on our little community, I got busy concerning myself with other things like freeways, student noise and getting glimpses of the Endeavor while it hung out with us in Westchester. And wasn’t that exciting? I got a look at it as it swerved over Playa del Rey on its piggyback ride through our city, and also in the drizzle of a Friday morning when I saw it on the ground up close and personal... well, sort of. I was amazed at how large it was when I actually saw it out of the air. Seeing all the boo-boos on it and knowing

where it had been and how far it had traveled made me almost jealous of astronauts. Almost. Since I don’t really enjoy airplane travel, being an astronaut probably wouldn’t have been my best choice of professions– plus, I’m horrible at math and I think they have to be smart. Most amazing and heartwarming of all, though, was seeing the people flock to our area from far and wide, anxious to get a glimpse of this very patriotic piece of history. Though there were probably security people everywhere, they were at least not checking handbags and sticking wands in inappropriate places. It was just a neat way to hang out with your friends or family, take some photos, maybe grab some lunch and go home. I only saw the Endeavor as it sat in the parking lot across from The Coffee Company, but from comments other people made who live in Inglewood and closer to Endeavor’s final resting place at Exposition Park, I learned that families showed up to root it on with U.S. flags, and people were orderly

and polite throughout the parade route. It was too bad that some sections lost trees, but in the end, nobody seemed too worried about that and the thrill of seeing a real space ship won out. If only we could channel that calm patriotism and direct it toward our electoral process, which can get so expensive and so ugly. I know that I’m among the worst screamers and namecallers, but I get so angry with people who don’t see my point of view! See how that works? I would have made a terrible politician, but I would have made a great legislator, because I try to be fair and square and use good judgment in my dealings. Alas, all those other screamers and name-callers probably think they are reasonable people, too. I don’t want another 9/11 to bring us together, and Endeavor’s glow didn’t last long. But I sincerely hope we can achieve some sort of unity in this nation before we rip each other to shreds and spend far too much money doing so. And let me here an “Amen.”

Seasons, reasons and lifetimes By Mishele Vieira, Certified Professional Organizer® It is with a heavy heart that I tell you my dear readers that this will be my last article in the HomeTown News. As I hope you know, one of the things I stand for is making room for what matters most–whether that’s making room to eat together at your table, or room in your calendar to complete a project, or room in your heart for a new relationship. What matters most right now is that I relocate my home to be with my family in Northern California. I am so thankful to the HomeTown News owner, and editor, Stephanie Davis, for providing me with the opportunity to share my thoughts with you every month for the last three years. It has been my intention for you to know, that organizational challenges are not a character flaw. An under-organized house does not make someone a bad parent, partner, or professional, and perfection is not the goal. Wherever you are is where you are supposed to be, and there is always an opportunity to change if you desire. I am often asked for some of my favorite tips. Here they are, one more time and as you may recall, they have been woven in to many of the articles and projects we’ve tackled together: • Schedule it • Work in small increments • Done is better than perfect • Ask for and accept help • Work within your own standards not those of you neighbor, best friend, or your mother Thank you to you who have continued to read my articles and share

with me your progress. I was delighted to meet many of you at the Farmers’ Market, Trader Joes, at the gym and the dog park where you said you enjoyed the articles and benefitted in some way. I was told stories of things that people were finally able to let go of, clothing, paper, children’s artwork and gifts. There have been babies born and new homes, and visitors for the first time in years and many more wonderful occurrences and organizational victories. While my home is moving, a piece of my heart and my business will remain right here as we continue to serve some of our amazing clients in Los Angeles. If you wish to stay connected, please visit the Away With Chaos Facebook page. You can also receive our free etips by emailing me directly. Although I am ready for the change, and the new opportunities it will bring, I will miss many things and people in the HTN area. But instead of being sad, I look forward to the wonderful times ahead for all of us and I am again reminded of one of my favorite poems appearing below, written by one of my favorite authors, Unknown. So long for now, until we meet again. With gratitude and appreciation, Mishele Vieira Seasons, Reasons, Lifetimes People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support,

to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on. Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season. LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind, but friendship is clairvoyant. Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime. Mishele Vieira, CPO®, owner of Away With Chaos helps overwhelmed, overscheduled and under-organized people make room for what matters most in their home, work and life. Contact her at mishele@awaywithchaos.com.

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

Keeping vibrant thoughts and memories in By Fay Craton The other day while driving through Westchester, I noted the beauty of leaves changing colors on a maple tree. The natural seasonal progression is unfolding. It is amazing to see the beautiful fall colors. Seeing the red, orange and purple brings to my mind happy childhood memories of playing with leaves. The sight also generates within me other thoughts about end of the year getting close, projects still need to be completed, and the knowledge that holiday stress is just around the corner. The many diverse thoughts are triggered simply by seeing the changing colors of a tree. Not all ideas popping into our heads are healthy. Some ideas increase our sense of happiness, while other thoughts increase sadness and stress. The normal mental process in observing an event is to take it into our minds and try to make sense of what we observe. We do this by using our past memories, which includes times of happiness and times of sadness. Both trees and thoughts require pruning to keep them healthy. Trees can be pruned all year long. However, when autumn leaves fall, gardeners know it is the best time to prune dormant trees in order to aid the tree’s health. This allows the best opportunity for new growth when the growing season starts in the spring. The gardener nurtures healthy branches, while lovingly trimming back less vibrant branches. This allows nutrients to flow to the areas of the healthiest parts of the plant. This same principle applies to our thoughts and feelings. Except when pruning our thoughts, we can do it continuously all year long. Your thoughts are one of the few areas of your life fully in your control. You have very little control over many events, or over the behaviors and words of another person. Much of what happens around you is not within your power. Thoughts increasing your stress or depression level can be lovingly pruned by redirecting your mental focus toward thoughts that increase your vibrancy. Making this shift is life changing. It is well worth the effort to learn how to refocus your thoughts and their related feelings. The first step to pruning thoughts is to identify the vibrant, life enhancing thoughts as well as the thoughts that stagnate and reduce your vitality. An example of this can be my thoughts when I saw the maple tree. What thoughts were triggered when I saw

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the tree? When looking at this one event, it is easy to see how one event generated multiple thought patterns generated from my past memories. Some of the memories are happy while others create stress. However, if I look at the event without the memories and simply view the tree from the “now” moment there is not the happy memories or the stress provoking memories. The “now” moment was seeing the tree and a sensation of enjoyment of the natural beauty of nature. All the other thoughts, both happy and stressed were generated by my memories and perceptions developed during my past. The best solution would have been to enjoy the “now” and let the triggered thoughts drift away. Staying so fully in the “now” is very difficult for most people. The next best solution is to deliberate prune away the thoughts creating stress and placing my energy onto the memories of happiness. Health improves when we are not experiencing stress or constant sadness. The thoughts we dwell on are reflected in how we behave and in our responses to other people. When we dwell on thoughts of happiness, the expression of happiness appears in our communication. The experience of happiness expands and becomes what is happening in the “now.” Pruning does not mean denying events and the normal feelings generated by current circumstances. Living authentically includes experiencing a full range of feelings from joy to grief. Pruning is for triggered memories and fear generated by assumptions and biases. Triggered memories are about the past we have already lived. They are like old branches on a tree sapping away the strength from new growth. Constantly reliving bad memories robs us of vitality. As I think about our community and the fall foliage of past years, I remember some clusters of trees that were simply gorgeous. Because of my triggered thoughts, I plan to drive by some of the areas and renew my happy memories. My wish for you is that you are able to prune the memories no longer offering vitality in your life. I hope you, too, are able to enjoy the beauty of the fall season. 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. Contact her at (310) 645-6762.

“Thoughts increasing your stress or depression level can be lovingly pruned by redirecting your mental focus toward thoughts that increase your vibrancy.”

November 2012

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

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To Do Rotary Club of Westchester The Rotary Club of Westchester meets every Wednesday at 12 noon for lunch at the Crowne Plaza LAX Hotel, 5985 W. Century Blvd. in Westchester. The cost of lunch is $20 and validated self parking is free. Guests are most welcome! Reservations are not required. For information regarding the upcoming luncheon programs, visit www.rotary-westchester.org/ or become our friend (Westchester Rotary) on Facebook. Playa Vista Farmers’ Market Come out to the Playa Vista Farmers’ Market, located in the heart of Playa Vista. Open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and showcasing the freshest fruits, vegetables and flowers direct from the best local farmers’ California has to offer as well as other traditional market fare. This is a Certified Farmers’ Market sponsored by Sprouts of Promise Foundation, a 501(c) 3 non-profit focused on the education of healthy eating habits. Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club Join the Rotary club of Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club at its Wednesday morning meeting at 7:15 a.m. at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel, located at 13480 Maxella Avenue in Marina del Rey. The cost of the meeting is $25, which includes breakfast and a guest speaker. Guests are welcome and reservations are not required. For more information, www. playasunrise.org or call (310) 4293808. Speakers by the Sea Toastmaster’s Group Improve your public speaking skills every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. by joining the Speakers by the Sea Toastmaster’s Group. Visitors are always welcome - just drop in. The meeting takes place at 12000 Vista del Mar in Conf. Room 230A in Playa del Rey (One traffic light South of Imperial Highway on Vista del Mar) For more info, please call (310) 5592834. Emerson Ave. Community Garden Day Please join the Emerson Ave. community garden group for its monthly garden day on Saturday, November 3. The garden is located on Emerson Avenue and 80th Place in Westchester on the grounds of Orville Wright Middle School. Volunteers will work on maintenance of the communal plots, building the outdoor classroom, painting and other projects. See all the great progress made by teams from LMU, UCLA and the community. Morning treats will be available at 8:30 a.m. and the work day lasts from 9 to noon. Fun tasks for all ages and skill levels.

November 2012

• your community newspaper • your community newspaper • your community newspaper • Otis College of Art and Design’s Ben Maltz Gallery Presents Alison Saar’s “STILL...” The Ben Maltz Gallery presents and document new work by artists in the “SoCal” region with the solo exhibition “STILL...” by Otis alumna Alison Saar (MFA 1981) through November 17. Informed by artistic traditions from the Americas to Africa and beyond, and by her mixed racial upbringing, Saar fuses her paradoxical responses to the black-and-white delineations of political and social forces into a powerful, visual and kinesthetic tension. She uses the history and associations of her materials, everyday experience, African art and ritual, Greek mythology and the stark sculptural tradition of German Expressionism to infuse her work with a primal intensity that challenges cultural and historic references and stereotypes. STILL . . . gathers together for the first time four never-exhibited works made during a residency at Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle with six new bronze and mixed-media sculptures. The show runs through November 17 and the Ben Maltz gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and closed Sundays and Monday. The gallery is located on the Otis campus at 9045 Lincoln Blvd. in Westchester and is free and open to the public. Holiday Home Tour The Westchester Mental Health Guild will host its 30th Annual Holiday Home Tour on Sunday, November 4, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ticketed guests can visit six wonderful houses, decorated for various holidays, in Westchester and Playa del Rey. This is a record number of houses on the tour, in honor of the 30th anniversary. Guests can also attend a festive reception, from noon to 5 p.m., where they also can do some early holiday shopping at the Guilded Cage Boutique at the Westchester YMCA Annex, at 8020 Alverstone Ave. in Westchester. The Holiday Home Tour is the Guild’s largest fundraiser of the year. Net proceeds from the event support the Airport Marina Counseling Service. Home tour tickets cost $30 and are available at the Guilded Cage in Westchester, 8917-B South Sepulveda Boulevard (cash or check only), or by credit card on-line at http:// wmhgholidayhometour2012.eventbrite. com. For information about the cause, check out the Westchester Mental Health Guild website at http://www. westchestermhg.org or that of the Airport Marina Counseling Service at http://www.airportmarina.org. Pacific Art Guild The Pacific Art Guild will meet Wednesday, November 7 at 7 p.m. at the Community Room, Westchester Civic Center, located at 7166 W. Manchester Ave. in Westchester.

Guests are welcome. The guest demonstrator for November is Stephen Woodworth. A native of California, Stephen says he developed a love for landscapes during his nomadic childhood. While he works in many different mediums, Stephen will demonstrate a watercolor landscape. For more info, please call Vickie Myers, club president at (310) 3225059. Westchester Little League Sign-Ups The Westchester Little League (WLL) is holding early bird sign-ups for its 2013 season on Tuesday, November 13. Sign-ups will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Shakey’s Pizza, 5604 Sepulveda Blvd. in Culver City. All players signing-up on this date will receive a discounted registration fee along with two options for making payment: either a single payment of $150 (more than 15% off the regular fee) or three monthly payments of $55 (nearly 10% savings). An additional $15 discount will also be given to all new players entering the league. Please visit www. westchesterlittleleague.com for additional information regarding the registration process (fees, required deposits, necessary documents to provide and downloading the 2013 registration form). WLL is open to boys and girls who will be ages 6-12 as of April 30, 2013 and live within our league’s boundaries. A map of these boundaries can be found at: westchesterll.org. If you have any questions or are interested in volunteering as a coach or umpire, please email playball90045@yahoo.com or contact the League Registrar, Jen Mulligan, at (310) 606-1467. Elks Holiday Boutique The Elks will hold a holiday boutique of handmade and unique holiday gifts on Saturday, November 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The boutique will take place at the Elk’s Lodge, located at 8025 W. Manchester Blvd. in Playa del Rey. Table spaces are also available to rent. For more info, please contact Jan Conklin (310) 910-5801.

Kentwood Players Present “Fortinbras” Kentwood Players presents Lee Blessing’s political farce “Fortinbras” from November 9 to December 15 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the Westchester Playhouse. “Fortinbras” is a laugh riot, dark comedy with a delightful outlook on truth and politics– inescapably relevant to today’s political scene during this election year. Questions are raised about authority and leadership with mocking (and loving) reverence for Shakespeare’s vision and characters, but prior knowledge or familiarity with Shakespeare is absolutely not required to enjoy the play. Full of contemporary wit and modern language, “Fortinbras” takes up where Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” left off. When the lights go up, Hamlet dies and Fortinbras rushes in where flights of angels fear to tread. Tickets are $18 and are available at the box office. For more info or to purchase tickets online, visit www.kentwoodplayers.org. Please note that due to adult language and subject matter, this play is recommended for ages 16 and up. Westchester Lutheran holds auditions for Messiah Concert Westchester Lutheran Church is putting out a call to all Los Angeles area singers to participate in its Annual Messiah Concert to be held on Sunday, December 2 at 4 p.m. No experience is required and volunteers will begin learning their parts at rehearsals starting November 4 at 1 p.m. at Westchester Lutheran Church located at 7831 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Westchester. The concert, directed by Marshall Ramirez, features professional solo artists, a large chorus of singers from local area choirs and a 20-piece orchestra. For more information, contact the church office at (310) 670-5422.

LMU Neighborhood Advisory Committee Community Announcement

Dear Neighbors: You are invited to attend LMU’s quarterly Neighborhood Advisory Committee meeting. This committee meets quarterly to discuss matters of public safety and student behavior in the community, parking and other concerns related to the implementation of LMU’s 20-year Master Plan. This meeting is open to the public. No RSVP required. Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 Time: 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Location: Westchester Senior Center, 8740 Lincoln Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045 Parking: Free parking is available in the parking lot adjacent to the Westchester Senior Center. For more information contact: Clarence Grifﬁn, Director of Community and Government Relations at 310.338.7854 or cegrifﬁn@lmu.edu

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

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COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS

November Sunday

Monday

Tuesday Tuesday

Wednesday Wednesday

Thursday Thursday

Friday Friday

Saturday Saturday

Still...@ First Friday @ 87th Ben Maltz Gallery Street & Truxton Ave. (through November 17)

Garden Day @ Emerson Community Garden

Drollinger Toy Drive (through November 30)

1 Concert Auditions @ Westchester Lutheran

Election Day 2012

Holiday Home Tour @ Westchester, Playa del Rey

NCWP Meeting @ Westchester Municipal Building

Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey

School Tour @ WNS

Pacific Art Guild Meeting @ Westchester Community Room

“Fortinbras” @ Westchester Playhouse

18 “Fortinbras” @ Westchester Playhouse

November 2012

Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park

Gateway to Go @ Crowne Plaza LAX

Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey

Middle School Tour @ WNS

“Fortinbras” @ Westchester Playhouse

Early Bird Little League Sign-Ups @ Shakey’s Culver City

Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park

Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey

Spooky Story Time @ Westchester Park

Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park

15 Happy Thanksgiving!

Holiday Boutique @ The Elks Lodge

“Fortinbras” @ “Fortinbras” @ Westchester Playhouse Westchester Playhouse

Community Dinner @ Westchester Christian Church

School Tour @ WNS

“Fortinbras” @ Westchester Playhouse

LMU Advisory Committee @ Westchester Senior Center

Gateway to Go @ Crowne Plaza LAX

“Fortinbras” @ “Fortinbras” @ Westchester Playhouse Westchester Playhouse

Coloring Contest Deadline

“Fortinbras” @ Westchester Playhouse

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

Page 18

�� Getting your Property Sold is as Easy as Listing with Robin Zacha There are many realtors or With Robin Zacha of Zacha agents to choose from, but Homes, You get all of that when choosing to buy or sell, knowledge and expertise why not choose a realtor and more... that knows not only sales, Welcome to Westchester, If you are thinking of contracts and negotiating Call for a free evaluation and a wonderful your home, call for a BUT EVERY aspect of a neighborhood. see how this can save selling you home from building and hundreds and thousands of free home evaluation. plumbingHomes to electrical, dollars before you sell or buy are selling and foundation, structure and with just anyone... families are moving here and Find out how to keep more more...

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November 2012

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

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LAURA & JACK DAVIS We wish you and yours a very happy & healthy Thanks g i v i n g

Going... Going …. Gone !

Sold In 10 Days Over Asking Price! 7101 Sepulveda Private, Westchester $1,325,000

5 Unit Apartment Building ! 4250 Sawtelle Avenue, Culver City $899,000

New Construction! 5832 W. 85th Pl, Westchester $591,789

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

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New airport police chief Real named

Advertisement during the time these sales were initiated, such as the debt debate, weakened stock market, and pending changes to the conforming loan limit,” said C.A.R. President Beth L. Peerce. “This heightened uncertainty, coupled with the lower conforming loan limit, which some large lenders began implementing in early July, had an adverse Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) withimpact 1,700 employees onsworn September sales.” and has announced the appointment of 150 civilian employees. In this The September statewide median price of an existing,Gannon single-family home sold law-enforcement veteran Patrick assignment, was detached responsible in California was $287,440, down 3.2 percent Gannon as Chief of LAWA’s Airport for overseeing all law-enforcement from adelivered revised $297,060 August and down 8.3 Police Division. Chief Gannon will services by fourincommunity percent from the $313,460 median pricearecorded be for law enforcement police stations, a traffic division and Byresponsible Richard L. Otterstrom & Richard C. for September 2010. and security at LAX, LA/Ontario homicide division. Otterstrom “While the median price declined in International (ONT) and Van Nuys InSeptember, his new position as Chief of we’ve seen nominal month-to(VNY) general aviation airports, as well Airport Police, Gannon will lead the price month changes in the statewide median C.A.R. releases September sales and as at LAWA’s aviation-related property fourth largest lawindicating enforcement agencyin since February, some stability price report in Palmdale. He will report directly in Los Angeles with more home prices,”County said C.A.R. Vice President and Heightened economic uncertainty tocontributed LAWA Deputy Executive Director than 1,100 law enforcement, security Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. to a decrease in California home September home sales remained for Law Enforcement and Homeland and“Additionally, staff personnel. Airport Police sales in September, according to data from on track expectations for this year, and sales Security, Arif Alikhan. officers andwith Civilian Security Officers the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF for all of 2011 should be about even Also announced wasHowever, the REALTORS® (C.A.R.). September are assigned to a wide range of lawwith last year, slightly above 490,000 units.” home sales posted higher onT. a year-to-year appointment of Michael Hyams basis enforcement and security functions Other key facts of C.A.R.’s resale housing for the third consecutive month and remain at as the new Deputy Chief of Airport including police patrols, explosives report for September 2011 include: stable levels. Police, where he will serve as second detection, trafficInventory enforcement, The Unsold Index for existing, Closed escrow singlein command. Hesales hasofaexisting, distinguished criminal Investigations, dignitary single-family detached homes was 5.1 months family detached homes in California fell to a career as a police executive and has protection, regulatory enforcement, in September, essentially unchanged from 5.0 seasonally adjusted 487,940 units in September, served as Interim Chief of Airport access control, counter-terrorism, months in August but down from a revised 5.9 down 2.1 percent from a revised 498,320 in months in September 2010. The index indicates Police since February. He will infrastructure protection, and tactical August, according to information collected by the number of months needed to deplete the continue to more servethan as interim chief until response. C.A.R. from 90 local REALTOR® supply of homes onBill the market at the current Gannon joins later this However, year. Said Councilman Rosendahl, associations andLAWA MLSs statewide. sales rate. Gannon home retired from the September sales were upLos 4.1 percent from “I’m thrilled to have Pat Gannon take Thirty-year fixed-mortgage interest rates the revised 468,700 units sold during the like the reins Angeles Police Department (LAPD) of the Airport Police. He averaged 4.11 percent during September 2011, period a year ago. The statewide sales fi gure last summer after 34 years of service, brings to LAX a well-earned reputation down from 4.35 percent in September 2010, what would be the ofrepresents which 12 years were at total the number of for building consensus andAdjustable-mortgage working according to Freddie Mac. homes soldmanagement during 2011 if sales executive level.maintained At the withinterest local rates stakeholders to enhance averaged 2.84 percent in July 2011, the September pace throughout the year. It is time of his retirement, he was serving public safetywith and3.46 security. The compared percent in September 2010. adjusted to account for seasonal factors that astypically deputyinfl chief and commanding traveling public can rest assured with The median number of days it took to sell a uence home sales. single-family home was 54.4 days in September officer of LAPD’s Operations-South Chief Gannon at the helm, and I look “September’s sales decline was not a surprise, 2011, to compared with 50.3him.” days for the same Bureau. served working with given theThis run ofbureau economic events800,000 that occurred forward period a year ago. residents in South Los Angeles

Estate View

Westchester Christian Community Church invites you to our....

FREE Community Dinner Thanksgiving Day (turkey dinner with all the trimmings)

In All Gives Thanks

All Are Invited To Participate – Thursday, November 22nd 12:30 pm to 2 pm A Time of Prayer and Worship at 11:15 am in the Sanctuary From Our Family to Yours with Love Hosted by Westchester Christian Community Church 8740 La Tijera Blvd., Westchester 90045 • 310-645-4344 (Across from the Coffee Company at Sepulveda Eastway) Everyone Welcome

Please RSVP to WestchesterChristian @Gmail.com

For I was Hungry and you Gave Me Food to Eat. Matthew 25:35 If you would like to contribute a dish to this outreach effort or donate an hour or two of your time to serve and fellowship with your neighbors, Please contact Crissina Johnson at: 310-645-4344 or westchesterchristian@gmail.com November 2012

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

Page 21

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Chester West

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Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/thehtn Email us at: westchesterhometown@yahoo.com Visit us at: thehtn.com Call us at: (310) 641-1016 November 2012

HOMETOWN

NEWS

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista

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

Page 22

In Pictur es

• your community newspaper • your community • your community newspaper • your community •

Everyone loves the Endeavour! During the Space Shuttle Endeavour’s 9-hour stop-over in Westchester, students from all over the community came out to see the national treasure up close. At left: WISH Charter School’s first grade class led by Ms. Sitrick jumps for joy after seeing the shuttle. PHOTO BY DANIELLE BUSSE. At right: Visitation’s choir sang “America the Beautiful” at an early morning Endeavour event. General Kevin Chilton, who was an astronaut on the Endeavour, is an alumni of both Visitation and St. Bernard High School. PHOTO BY ANNA CODY.

Retro Prom. Kentwood’s Second Annual Retro prom was a rocking good time with attendees dressing up in costume to celebrate the 80s. The fundraiser, co-chaired by Anna Marie Caso and Tom Nelson, was able to raise more than $10,000 for the school.

November 2012

LA Fitness Grand Opening. LA Fitness, located at 8601 Lincoln Blvd., recently celebrated its opening with a ribbon cutting and open house. Guests were treated to complimentary workouts, face painting and prizes. Welcome to the neighborhood!

We want to see you “In Pictures!” Email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com

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

Page 23

St. Anastasia prepares for academic decathlon season Thirteen seventh and eighth graders will represent St. Anastasia Catholic School in the 2013 California Catholic Schools Academic Junior High Decathlon. The annual event hosts over 100 Catholic schools in the Los Angeles Archdiocese. The top two schools from Los Angeles will advance to the statewide competition against the top single teams from each diocese across California. Mike Muir, St. Anastasia’s newly appointed principal, is heading the team as a coach alongside St. Anastasia’s middle school science teacher, Sister Kathleen Dullea. Training will include preparation for the ten event competition which begins with two collaborative team events – 20 rigorous thinking problems and a 50 multiple choice super quiz based on five broad academic themes. Eight individual knowledge tests, give individual team members a chance to excel on subjects including Roman Catholic doctrine, English, Literature, Science, Mathematics, Current Events, Social Studies and Fine Arts (Art and Music). Muir says his favorite subjects are the fine arts and the history sections. Muir has been involved with Academic Decathlon since 1995. He signed on to coach students at Incarnation Parish School in Glendale when he was principal and the following year he joined the planning committee. Muir believes introducing St. A’s students to the Academic Decathlon will be an enjoyable and an exciting opportunity saying, “I have thoroughly enjoyed my involvement with Academic Decathlon and I believe that it is a good fit for the students at Saint Anastasia. Celebrating knowledge and study is the cornerstone of Academic Decathlon and I have seen firsthand the positive impact that it can have on learning.” The response from the St. A’s community has also been very positive. Parents are thrilled with the addition of an academic competition at the school and are hoping the program has much success. Parish Pastor Monsignor Gabe Gonzalez is also pleased with the

new program saying, “I am extremely pleased and very excited about our school taking part in the Academic Decathlon since it will provide another great opportunity to show how our students excel in a quality educational environment. Our kids love to learn. The Decathlon is just one more area that strategically helps to build wellrounded students who easily advance in an increasingly competitive world.” The competition will take place on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at the LA Sports Arena. The St. A’s team began weekly practices in September and is currently working on logic problems as well as understanding the finer points of Jack London’s novel White Fang, one of the novels that students may be questioned about. Specific subjects students will be quizzed on are expected to be announced in the next few weeks. When asked what it takes to do well in the competition Muir responded by saying, “The bottom line for Academic Decathlon success is a great deal of studying. Participants need to be organized and committed to putting the hard work that leads to success. An involved and supportive team of parents studying with their children is also a key factor.” Muir also has high expectations for this rookie team and believes they have a real chance at shining. “I am very enthusiastic about our team this year.” He says. “They are very smart and dedicated to working hard. I see no reason why we can’t compete with some of the top schools out there. As long as our kids remain focused and willing to put in the time we should have a great deal of success.” The Catholic Schools Academic Decathlon began in 1989 by St. Aloysius School junior high teacher Dr. Mark Ryan. Believing academic competition was just as important as athletic competition, he organized a small but enjoyable event that has grown to be a statewide event. The Decathlon is currently under the guiding jurisdiction of the California Catholic State Superintendents Curriculum Committee.

VERGARI & ASSOCIATES attorneys & counselors at law

Our staff strives to build long term relationships with our clients

IF YOU KNOW WHAT’S GOOD FOR YOU... READ LABELS.

By Artista Marchioni, RN, BSN, LE, LNC

Reading labels before you purchase is health changing. Just eliminating products with dyes, preservatives, artificial flavors and sugar is a step in the right direction. Sugar is now in almost everything from canned beans, soups, meats, including products for diabetics, to name a few items. Unfortunately savory is gone and sweet is in. This is an addiction that has changed the palate of the population and impacted the health of our nation. Artificial sweeteners are just as harmful. Try xylitol and stevia if you need sweet. Both of these products are plants and look like sugar. Sugar makes the body chemistry acid and opens the physiology to all disease. I recently saw cheap candy advertised on television and a local church looking for five large trash cans of candy, up from the previous three. A super market was giving away a liter of soda if the cashier did not ask you to donate for breast cancer. No, I am against breast cancer and preservatives in sodas. Wake up please! Sodium Benzoate is a preservative added to a host of products. When added to citric

��

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Azusa Paciﬁc University Choir and Orchestra

November 2012

performing international Yuletide music and traditional carols Tuesday, November 20, 2012 Sheraton Gateway LAX Hotel 6101 W. Century Blvd. Doors open 11:30 a.m. Program begins at 12 noon your family, friends and business associates are all welcome $300 for table of 10 $50 per individual seat

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All proceeds will go to beneﬁt three local charities: �� Be sure to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Paciﬁc Area Boosters Association – LAPD Toy Give Away. Attendees who do will be entered into a special drawing to win a trip and other prizes

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ESTATE PLANNING and FAMILY LAW

acid, a natural preservative or naturally occurring in a lot of food, it produces a chemical called BENZENE. Benzene is toxic and causes cancer! Yikes! This is being fed to our children. Our babies are being fed baby formulas and the very ﬁrst ingredient is sugar. Read the list of ingredients. If there are too many just put it back. When you know better you do better. Our label laws are a little good and a little ridiculous. Olive oil now says no cholesterol. It never had cholesterol! The facts are, olive oil is good for you and we need cholesterol to live. Cholesterol helps with brain function and patches damaged blood vessels as we age. Our adult brains are half fat and children’s are even more. Fat heads, all of us. However there is a lot of bad cholesterol in the American diet. Bad diets are white, yellow and brown. Many plates are all the previous colors. Eat close to nature with and all the colors of the rainbow including all fruits and vegetables. Choice for health and healing starts by reading labels.

Guest Hosts:

Drollinger LAX KIWANIS CLUB

P R O P E R T I E S

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

Page 24

NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL OF WESTCHESTER / PLAYA

2012 ELECTION INFORMATION Your Neighborhood Council ...

Election Results ...

Neighborhood Councils are designed to give all individuals: residents, business owners, property owners, renters, youth, �� effective way to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. Through Neighborhood Councils, all stakeholders will have a better way to understand the issues that divide them, and �� friendship and community.

At-Large Director Seat 1 Nora MacLellan ��

The Neighborhood Council of Westchester/ Playa (NCWP) is governed by a board of directors elected by our community that meets monthly. NCWP’s goal is to increase public participation in government and advocate at City Hall, and elsewhere, for our community. �� build our community and nourish the democratic spirit of individuals through shared values such as compassion, tolerance and equality.

Residential District 4 Alexandra Bissonnette Residential District 6 Christopher Baker John Loizeaux

�� (elected candidates in bold)

�� Mark Redick Residential District 2 �� Gregory Heffernan

Residential District 8 Thomas Flintoft

137

Education Director Seat Andrew Kamm

138

Residential District 10 Matthew Parrish

130

LMU Representative ��

��

Residential District 12 Denny Schneider Jennifer Stonerock

115 51

Business Seat 90045 Geoff Maleman

147

87 63

Business Seat 90293 Lance Williams

141

133

Residential District 14 Alex Eychis Karen Stone

60 65*

�� Sharma Henderson David Voss

68 89

101 �� 149 �� 68

Service Clubs and Fraternal �� Jack Topal 141 �� Scott Carni

140

��

Meet the New Board Members GREGORY HEFFERNAN

I have lived and worked in Playa del Rey/Westchester for over eleven years as both a student at Loyola Marymount University and as a teacher at one of the local high schools. Both my children attend public schools in this district. I’m a current resident and parent with a vested interest to assist this community as it faces the exciting and daunting challenges of its future development, enhancement, and preservation. My background includes being a professional journalist, PR consultant, and visiting college professor. I’m also former teacher of California history, and west side �� with great enthusiasm to this district’s legacy.

ALEXANDRA BISSONETTE

The Playa/Westchester neighborhood is a nook of LA that I have come to understand as something truly special. It is unlike any other neighborhood in Los Angeles. It is my love of this community, and my drive to help shape it for the future that has compelled me to run for neighborhood council. I

am running because I want to ensure that our community’s interests are represented as our neighborhood develops. Additionally, I want to engage all residents in an effort to help our community achieve its fullest potential. My background as a teacher and my current position at an organization that engages in community organizing has given me a grounded understanding of the ability of individual community members to improve their neighborhood. In running for this position, I hope to work with the residents of Playa and Westchester to honor and improve our community as a whole.

MATTHEW PARRISH

As a life long resident of Westchester, my platforms are two-fold. Senior citizens need better representation. The people of Westchester need a public facility, where they can engage in activities. I am 19-years old, attending a local college, but still have time to address the needs of the community. Currently, I volunteer for, Heal the Bay, Upward Bound and tutoring students at local schools.

SCOTT CARNI

I’m a native of WPDR, work in Real Estate; I’m a single father of two and currently serve as the President of the Westchester Rec. Center’s, Park Advisory Board. We oversee all 8 parks in the area. Yes, after 50 years, �� Westchester Park. Now it’s the Lagoon Park’s turn. I’m also working on the new 35 acre park designated for PDR. Additional community involvement for your perusal: �� Hopefully, you can see why I’m interested in the Youth Seat. ��

www.ncwpdr.org November 2012

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