westchester
Y O U R
C O M M U N I T Y ,
FREE
p l a ya v i s ta
playa del rey
Y O U R
C O M M U N I T Y
m a r i n a d e l rey
N E W S P A P E R
T h e H T N .c o m
F e b r u a r y 5, 2 015
Oula O l iinstructors t t Ch Christina i ti G Garcia i ((center) t ) and d JJess G Gaffney ff ((right) i ht) llead d th the workout k t class l att W Westchester’s t h t ’ LA A Arts t C Collective. ll ti
Neighborhood School Expo gives parents the chance to learn about school choices in community With the myriad of public, private, charter, magnet and parochial schools to choose from in the community, picking the right school to fit your family’s needs can often be a challenging task. The Education Committee, a program of the LAX Coastal Chamber, is hoping to provide some insight and answers into the local education system with its inaugural Neighborhood School Expo. The Education Committee meets monthly
A Look Inside Your
HomeTown
and is comprised of school principals, administrators and education advocates. The group meets to discuss best practices, share resources and hear from a variety of speakers on education topics. At the expo, attendees will have the opportunity to connect with local schools with 20-minute breakout discussion sessions where they can learn the difference between types of schools; speak one-on-one with educa-
tion administrators and meet and greet with community resources. Confirmed schools as of press time include: Goethe International Charter School, Animo Westside Charter Middle School, Loyola Village Fine Arts & Performing Magnet, Otis College, Paseo del Rey Elementary, St. Jerome School, St. Bernard High School, Visitation, Westchester Lutheran, Westchester Secondary Charter, Westport Heights, Westside Neighbor-
hood School, WISH Charter and Wright STEAM Magnet. The Neighborhood School Expo will be held on Wednesday, February 11 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, located at 6323 W. 80th Street in Westchester. Parents are encouraged to bring their kids to the expo and face painting, food and activities will be provided. For more info, call (310) 645-5151.
Coworking facility launches
Restaurateur gets fit
For the love of...
7
9
12
Oula finds a home in Westchester Stepping into an Oula workout class, be prepared for laughing, singing, high fives and, of course, a lot of dancing. Oula takes its name from Missoula, Montana the city were the dance workout was created by Kali Lindner. A yoga and workout instructor with a background in dance, she created Oula in the hopes of combining aspects of dance, aerobics and yoga into a community-centered, intense workout where the room is filled with positive energy. Classes are one hour and focused on choreographed dances to top forty hits by artists like Katy Perry and Taylor Swift. Westchester resident Christina Garcia fell in love with the dance workout while visiting Montana for a wedding. After taking just one class, Garcia, who is also a certified Zumba instructor, knew she was in the right place. “My main love is dance. It’s something that I love to do. With Oula, I like the variety of movements,” said Garcia, who has taken dance classes her whole life. “Like runners can get a ‘runners high,’ there’s a dancing high that every time I workout I can feel. I thought if I can bring that feeling to California, that would be great.” When she got home, she immediately cleared her schedule to book a flight to Missoula to become a
People rock out at a Sunday morning Oula class.
certified Oula instructor. For Garcia, it’s not just about the dancing during the workout, but about the community and camaraderie that is created in each class. She says it’s not uncommon for the class to high-five each other after a song finishes. The motto of “It’s not how you look, it’s how you feel” really inspired Garcia, who admits to being too hard on herself at times and previously self-conscious about her choreography, to let loose and embrace the positivity that encompasses her Oula classes. During class, participants are encouraged to
sing, rock out and get swept up in the “dancemania for the soul.” “In Oula there are these ‘magic moments,’ when the singing gets louder and the movements get bigger. There is positive energy and people are pouring their hearts out,” said Garcia. “Everyone is singing the same thing and feeling the music. You just bounce off each other’s energy.” Garcia is one of only a handful of people certified to teach Oula in Los Angeles, but the new workout is catching on. In Westchester, Oula is currently taught by Garcia and an
instructor-in-training, Jess Gaffney, Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. at LA Arts Collective in Westchester. After hearing about the workout from a friend, Westchester resident Sara Caruso recently stopped by a class to see what all the hype was about. “What a blast! I was sweating like crazy and got a fabulous cardio workout!” said Caruso. “It’s all about feeling good and being present in the moment while dancing to hip tunes. I usually do weight training so this was an upbeat change for me. I really enjoyed it and would do it again!” For those interested in trying the class, the first one is free. Starting February 10, Garcia will also be teaching Tuesday nights at the Westchester Family YMCA. “The emphasis in Oula is to have fun and not care about how you look,” said Garcia. “There are a combination of reasons people take the class like meeting new people, wanting to exercise or lose weight. People like that they can feel welcome and motivated by the class. Everyone should try it and come down to check out a class. You have nothing to lose.” For more information about Oula, visit Facebook.com/OulaLosAngeles.
More Than Just An Urgent Care Emergency Care Visit us for most non-life threatening conditions including: injury, fall, fracture treatment & for quick fixes for cough, bronchitis, urinary infection and more...
(310) 305-9200 www.PlayaMedical.com 5450 Lincoln Blvd. Playa Vista 90094 Open 7 Days a Week 8:30AM - 8:30PM Walk-ins Welcome Weekends by appointment
Page 2 • February 2015
PLAYA SURGICAL INSTITUTE ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY SPINE & INTERVENTIONAL PAIN MANAGEMENT
PODIATRY STEM CELL PRP TREATMENT FOR SPINAL DISK DISEASE & SPORTS INJURIES
WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY & BARIATRIC PROGRAM
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
This Month Brings You A look inside your HTN Rotary to honor Citizen of the Year at dinner Business News A restaurateur learns you can be fit For the love of... Calendar/To Do In pictures
04 07 09 12 18-19 23
HOMETOWN STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Stephanie Davis, Publisher, Editor Fay Craton, Contributing Writer David “Duke” Dukesherer Sr., Looking Back
Jeff Blair, Contributing Writer Jack Younger, Contributing Cartoonist
Advertisers’ Directory Airport Marina Counseling Business & Professional Cantalini’s Salerno Beach Cinemark Playa Vista Covenant Presbyterian Church Custom Design & Construction Drollinger Properties Food Pantry, LAX Gateway to GO! Kevin and Kaz Gallaher Jane St. John Kiwanis LAX LA Arts Collective Loyola Marymount
08 18 07 17 15 10 14 15 22 21 21 06 14 04
Marina del Rey Hospital Neighborhood Council Playa Medical Plaza Race for Success Sarlo Income Tax School Expo Socal Sports and Fitness Stephanie Younger Group Visitation School Waterside Marina del Rey Westchester Lutheran Westchester Town Center BID Westchester/Playa Village Zacha Homes
24 23 02 06 09 15 04 11 16 05 22 03 08 20
t a t i d n u o f I ! r e t n e C n w o T r e t s e h Westc
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 Phone: (310) 641-1016 Email: westchesterhometown@yahoo.com or htn@thehtn.com Website: thehtn.com Facebook: facebook.com/thehtn
– JIM KENNEDY
“Like everyone in Westchester, I stop by Westchester Town Center whenever I want a sandwich from Togo’s or need something from CVS or Ralphs. But the hidden gem of Westchester Town Center is the Triangle. Nothing’s better than breakfast at Coffee Co. or a haircut at Gettin’ Faded!”
The deadline for submissions is the 22nd of each month.
Advertise with us! Let us help you promote your business, organization or event to our readers! Contact us for rates and to reserve space at: westchesterhometown@yahoo.com or (310) 641-1016
Like us on Facebook! Stay up-to-date with news and events by liking us at facebook.com/thehtn! Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
shop dine enjoy www.westchestertowncenter.com February 2015 • Page 3
Rotary to honor Citizen of the Year at dinner The Rotary Club of Westchester has selected Alison Hurst, Executive Director of Safe Place for Youth (SPY) as its 2015 Citizen of the Year. The club, which meets every Wednesday afternoon at the Crowne Plaza LAX, will honor Hurst at its annual fundraiser dinner, which helps raise funds for the club’s programs. The organization recently worked with SPY over the holidays by holding a clothing drive to replace items that were damaged after the nonprofit’s storage unit caught fire. “It is such an honor to be receiving Citizen of the Year for something I love to do. Every day I go to SPY and find the young people that attend totally inspiring; their ability to transcend unimaginable situations shows incredible resiliency,” said Hurst. Hurst has a passion for helping youth and started working with nonprofit organizations to help the homeless after moving from London to California with her family. In 2009, she was named Outreach Counselor of the Year at a national conference. In 2011, Hurst founded SPY after working with then Councilman Bill Rosendahl to open a drop-in center for youths in Venice. The goal was to create a place where homeless teens could feel safe and receive services,
Page 4 • February 2015
Hurst will be honored at the Rotary’s annual fundraiser.
food and clothing. Now SPY serves almost 800 clients every year and continues to make a positive impact on young people looking for a safe place and support. The Rotary fundraiser dinner will be held on Saturday, February 28 from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza LAX. Tickets to the dinner are $75 per person. At the event, the club will hold its reverse ticket drawing. A limited amount of tickets will be sold for $100 each and the owner of the last ticket drawn will have the chance to win $10,000. For more information, please contact Cindy Williams at (310) 568-1024 or email cjwill9105@gmail.com.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
February 2015 • Page 5
HOMETOWN
NEWS
:HVWFKHVWHU f 3OD\D GHO 5H\ f 0DULQD GHO 5H\ f 3OD\D 9LVWD
MAX ALATORRE AGNES ROSIAK REALTORS® Serving Westchester and Playa del Rey
The “A-Team REALTORS®”
AMY ANDREINI ADAM ROSAL
Page 6 • February 2015
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
TheHTN.com LAX Coworking. The LAX Coastal Chamber launched its new coworking facility, LAX Coworking, on Wednesday, January 21 with a grand opening celebration. Guests packed the coworking space, which is located adjacent to the chamber’s Westchester office, to network, learn what coworking is all about and sample food from a variety of chamber member restaurants. The goal of the coworking space is to offer entrepreneurs, tech start-ups and homebased workers an affordable place to work, brainstorm and build synergy with like-minded individuals. In the near future, an incubator component called “Elevate @ LAX Coworking” will be added, which will be available to provide resources and support for launching businesses. The space is available to work at by the day or by a monthly membership, and LAX Coworking also offers conference and office rentals. For more information, call (424) 290-8745. Paper Source now open. Marina del Rey’s Waterside Shopping Center recently celebrated the opening of its newest store, Paper Source. The store is a premier paper and gift retailer offering a curated selection of fine papers, custom invitations and announcements, distinctive gifts, quirky greeting cards, gift wrap, paper craft kits, party supplies and personalized stationery and stamps. The Paper Source is located at 4700 Admiralty Way in Marina del Rey. Brunch service. Playa del Rey has a new brunch spot thanks to Bacari PDR. The restaurant, which specializes in Mediterranean-styled smallplates, began serving brunch on Saturday, January 24 and will offer its brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Weekend guests to Bacari PDR can nosh on dishes like Chef Lior Hillel’s Bacaro Pancakes made with oatmeal, flax seed, yogurt batter, whipped cardamom butter and seasonal fruit; savory Goat Cheese Polenta and the
Visitors enjoy the new space at LAX Coworking.
Epithereal owner Coleen Janeway poses at the front desk of her new beauty boutique.
Chai Tea Custard with chia seeds, almond milk, coconut milk and macerated berries, among other savory and sweet options. Bottomless champagne, mimosas, bellinis and sparking sangria will be offered at $15 per person (per 60-minute time period). Bacari PDR is located at 6805 Vista Del Mar Ln. in Playa del Rey. Congratulations are in order. Westchester’s Cozette Vergari was recently selected as a Rotary District
Governor. Vergari, a family law attorney with an office in Westchester, has been a Rotarian for almost 20 years. As District Governor, Vergari will build a leadership team of approximately 50 Rotarians who will lead the direction of District 5280, which is made up of 63 clubs and approximately 2,500 Rotarians. The governor is tasked with meeting with every club in the district throughout the year. They also meet with other District Governors from around the world to create partner-
ships between countries to serve the needs of the underserved. Said Vergari, “As District Governor, I will organize and provide for education, resources and guidance as a liaison between Rotary International, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, as well as encourage interaction among the Rotary Clubs within our district.” The selection process to select a district governor is rigorous. Each club in a district may nominate a Rotarian after they receive one-hundred percent support of the membership. Candidates are then required to submit a vision statement and are interviewed by a panel of past governors and presidents before being selected. District Governors go through a two and a half year training period before being installed. Vergari’s official term as District Governor will commence in July 2017. Marina del Rey beauty boutique opens. Epithereal opened its first location on January 24 in Marina del Rey. The beauty boutique offers guests a variety of treatments including facials, microdermabrasion, injectables, peels, waxes and wellness therapies. “We love helping people feel beautiful through skincare and aesthetics; we welcome our guests like old friends,” says Coleen Janeway, founder of Epithereal. “Dr. Yazdani and I are both residents of the Venice/ Marina del Rey area– we understand our community and its lifestyle. Our staff is well trained in their craft and we knew we could offer something different. Epithereal is a byproduct of our passion and we hope people will enjoy and share our unique vision for our boutique business.” Epithereal is located at 13400 Washington Blvd. Suite 202-A in Marina del Rey. For more info, visit epithereal.com. We want to hear about your new business or recent success! If you have something to share, please email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com for a chance to be featured.
We want to hear from you! Have an idea for a story? Receive an award? Open a new business? Let us know at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com
Like us on Facebook! Stay up-to-date with news and events by liking us at facebook.com/thehtn! Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
February 2015 • Page 7
Random Notes/Opinion The power of a supportive community By Fay Craton Opinion: William James, a pivotal late 19th century American psychologist is attributed to having said, “The community stagnates without the impulse of the individual. The impulse dies away without the sympathy of the community.� James’ statement is timeless. The impulses– your strengths– that you offer to this world are very important. Just as important is that you have a loving, supportive community around you. Without this exchange, both you and groups of people around you not only do not thrive, but also can actually wither away. To thrive in this world requires you to embrace your strengths and to engage in nourishing, supportive relationships. Healthy groups of people support one another in expressing healthy behaviors. It is healthy to laugh, cry with each other, speak about personal life challenges, experiment expressing new skills, to be authentic and vulnerable and to emotionally support one another. You grow when thoughts and feelings are constructively heard and reflected back to you in a loving manner. Over a period-of-time, through this
exchange with others, you learn about yourself and about having meaning in the world. The circle between community and you is complete when you return compassionate expression to others in the community. As social beings, everyone needs connection to others. Whether we are looking at a community of people, or just two people, it is through consistent positive reflection and dialogue that healthy connection is formed. You can have an experience of connection from one instance, but relationship and community develops from consistency. A challenge in having healthy conversations is in letting go of your own mind chatter about the past or the future. Your ego likes to obsess about what you could have done different yesterday, or about a fear you have about an hour from now, tomorrow or some other time in the future. Connection requires being fully present in the moment. You know you are fully present when you completely lose track of time, your heart is engaged, and the internal mind chatter stops. In loving and supportive relationships, it is safe to listen, speak and be emotionally
open. Here are some important tips about connecting with others: • Set aside your ego and open yourself to a possibility of a loving flow between yourself and another person. • When you have not been able to set aside your ego and a conflict occurs, forgive yourself. • Every time you discover you have been responding to another person based on mind chatter, stop and take a breath. After the breath, you can decide if you wish to make a new choice to respond from love. • Remember, relationships are not all about you. While you do need opportunities to talk about you, so do others. Make sure you create opportunities for others to share and be supported. • Pay attention to what is unfolding in another person’s life. Caring about another person may mean respecting the need of another person to do some self-care instead of being present for you. • You will not make everyone happy. Choose your circle of friends from people of common interests and values. There will be times when demands
TheHTN.com
may be placed upon you that are not appropriate for you. It is okay to say “no.� Remember, healthy relationships are an exchange over a period of time. An occasional “no� will not destroy a healthy relationship. Constant inappropriate demands or expectations may mean you have chosen the wrong person or group of people with whom to build a trusting relationship. Responding from love includes loving yourself enough to take actions to keep yourself emotionally and/or physically safe. You may wish to seek a therapist to help you to understand your choices. My wish is for you to be involved with nourishing relationships where you can grow and thrive. My hope is for you to experience a place of authentic positive connection with others. Having your strengths acknowledged by both you and others is a powerful experience. It is up to you to make choices that lead you to be in a supportive community. Fay Craton, M.A. is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (mfc40011). She has an office in Westchester. Contact her at (310) 645-6762 or visitcommunicationtriangle.com.
AMCS has offered affordable, community-based mental health services for over 50 years. We are here to help. ŕŤ‹ LQIR#DLUSRUWPDULQD RUJ ŕŤ‹ /D 7LMHUD %OYG
Join us for one of these
Educational Therapy Groups! All classes will be held at the AMCS Office
Couples Group - Have the Relationship You Want 0RQGD\V SP VHVVLRQV SUHSDLG 6WDUWLQJ Call Ext. 137
Anxiety Management Support Group 0RQGD\V SP VHVVLRQ ZHHNV Call Ext. 248
Page 8 • February 2015
Women’s Circle 0RQGD\V SP VHVVLRQ 2SHQ WR :RPHQ 2OGHU Call Ext. 217
Reclaim Yourself in Times of Change Based on Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way�
:HGQHVGD\V SP ZN IRU ZNV Call Ext. 263
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
WE SPECIALIZE IN TAX RETURN PREPARATION Personal Tax Returns Trainers Jeff Blair and Ryan Smith pose with Tony Palermo (center) who has lost more than 40 pounds.
A restaurateur learns you can own a restaurant and be fit By Jeff Blair
varies it on different days. People have come to understand mornings are “Tony Time” and respect his schedule and do not interfere or interrupt his workouts. Palermo has developed the following routine: 1. 20 to 30 minutes of elliptical training Monday through Friday. 2. Bike rides on the bike path on Saturday and Sunday mornings. He will ride to the Santa Monica pier from his Marina del Rey restaurant and back most weekend mornings. 3. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Palermo lifts weights for an hour. He performs a full-body resistance routine that includes rows, deadlifts, chest presses and stepups. Palermo also does a variety of resistance band exercises, uses the battle ropes and cranks out pushups. He is very consistent with his workouts and almost never misses a workout day. 4. On Tuesday and Thursday, he will also do a variety of floor and bodyweight exercises in addition to his elliptical workout. Since he began his three times per week weight-training routine in late 2013, he has lost over 40 pounds and has made great gains in strength and muscle. His waist-line has shrunk, and he is wearing much smaller short pants, because Palermo always wears short pants! He has experienced many other benefits from his new fitness lifestyle. His workouts fuel him during work afternoons when he used to feel sluggish. He also has more focus and more energy to deal with the issues that arise from co-owning his own (continued on page 10)
Opinion: Tony Palermo, or Tony P as everyone knows him, never gave much thought to fitness growing up. Palermo’s focus was on work, cooking and restaurants. He started working in kitchens when he was thirteen-years-old and was working full-time in restaurants by the time he was 16. At an age when many kids are playing sports or hanging out with their friends, Palermo was cooking and serving restaurant customers. “I thought I worked too much and could not fit in time to workout. I never took time for myself since I was always working,” Palermo recalls. As he worked his way up the restaurant business ladder, Palermo constantly felt tired, sluggish and “always needed a nap.” He has worked long hours for decades in the restaurant business, first as an employee and now as a restaurant owner at his namesake eatery Tony P’s Dockside Grill. Today, Palermo still spends many hours in the kitchen and is constantly around food. That poses special challenges when starting a fitness routine, but he wanted to make a change for the better. About a year and a half ago, Palermo made a commitment to fitness- and to himself. Rather than simply working and recovering from his day, Palermo decided he would start exercising consistently, although he still did not think he’d be able to find time to workout with business and family obligations. For Palermo, working out early in the day works best. He performs some physical exercise every morning and Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Partnerships Self Employed LLC Real Estate Transactions S Corporations 1031 Exchanges C Corporations
CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT
310.823.6363 1843 Washington Way, Venice, CA 90291 in Venice on Abbott Kinney February 2015 • Page 9
Two Free Educational Seminars to Choose From! VisitCustomDesign.com for details.
Being fit (continued) (continued from page 9) restaurant. Palermo says “The best feeling you will get is walking out of the gym after a good workout to face your day!” He also finds it easier to resist food temptation when he works out. Said Palermo, “When I go to reach for food, my muscles hurt to pick it up! Being around food every day in my restaurant, you need that voice in your head that says, ‘Hey, what are you doing? You are not even hungry. Don’t eat that!’” Palermo has a few words of advice for people who have a hard time committing to a fitness routine. “Most people have some fitness background...maybe they played sports or were active when they were young,” says Palermo. “I had nothing and didn’t think I would ever spend time working out. If I can do it, so can you!” “I decided I am worth an hour per day to take care of myself. Without a commitment to yourself and your
fitness, you might not be around that long and then what are your achievements worth? Not much when you really think about it. Put the world on hold for an hour per day and take care of yourself. The work will always be there when you finish taking care of yourself.” Palermo continues to pursue greater fitness goals today and wants to maintain his active lifestyle. If you see him around town, make sure to tell him “Great job and keep up the good work, Tony P!” Before starting any fitness routine, please 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 2012, 2013 and 2014 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.
Remember the seniors you love on Valentine’s By Freddi Segal-Gidan
nearby. • Have an older adult pull out old love letters or saved cards and read them together. • Get kids involved. Have them make a card and maybe include a recent photo. Everyone enjoys a homemade Valentine. • Share a special breakfast or lunch and stories of love. • Frame an old photo of you with your senior and include a card about how much they mean to you. • Continue a tradition an older friend or relative may have shared with their late spouse or friends. • Be there. Your time and presence can add happiness to a day that may have otherwise been lonely. • If you can’t be there, be sure to make a phone call to tell a senior “Happy Valentine’s Day!” and tell them how much they are missed and loved. There are so many ways to bring happiness to the hearts of seniors on Valentine’s Day. For seniors living in our area, a way to remain in their home and connected with others is to join the Westchester Playa Village (WPV), a virtual village of neighbors helping neighbors, providing a variety of support including friendly visitors, walking buddies, transportation, social gatherings and more. You can also become a volunteer to help a senior in your neighborhood and brighten up their life on more than just Valentine’s Day. Every little bit helps and means so much. Wishing everyone of all ages a Happy Valentine’s Day! Freddi Segal-Gidan, PA, PhD is a Physician Associate and Gerontologist. She also serves on the board of directors for Westchester-Playa Village.
The Beatles’ sang “love is all you need” and it is as true today as when they wrote it some five decades ago, although all of us are now much older then we first heard those words, including Paul McCartney, who is now 72. No matter your age, Valentine’s Day is the day for those that enjoy the idea th of love and romance to celebrate. It is a time to show our true feelings and This informative seminar will help you learn: • Insights on what to expect affection, give gifts that display our • How to select a remodeling company • How long should your project take devotion and admiration and remind those near and far who we love how • The latest trends in the South Bay • Financing options for your project special they are. Whether you give • The advantage of a true design/build firm • And so much more! roses, or chocolates, or a small paper card, Valentine’s Day is one holiday that lets all of us feel special and treasured. st Valentine’s Day is about love, and who doesn’t like that? While the extra-special attention on February • How much typical kitchens & This informative seminar will help you learn: 14 brings forth memories of the warm baths cost • The three levels of kitchen & bath remodeling and romantic feelings we felt when we • How long should your project take • The latest product & design trends first fell in love, for many seniors, this • And so much more! in the South Bay annual day full of hearts and flowers can be just another day, or worse, a day Seminars are held at our of increased loneliness and sorrow. Design Center Loss becomes more common as we 2001 E. Mariposa Ave., El Segundo age. With people living longer, the loss of a spouse, life-long friends or even a Space is Limited, RSVP Today child is a common experience for more and more older adults. Valentine’s Day 310.815.4815 may leave some feeling more isolated. Or Many seniors are widowed or living VisitCustomDesign.com/Remodeling-Seminars alone, so finding a special way to show them some extra love on Valentine’s Day can make a big difference. It might be a relative, a friend, or a neighbor, but we all know someone who could use a little extra care and attention, especially on Valentine’s Day. Here are some ideas: License #524561 • Have flowers delivered to a senior DESIGN / BUILD | KITCHENS / BATHS | REMODELING | ADDITIONS | NEW CONSTRUCTION or deliver them yourself if you live Page 10 • February 2015 Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
The Secrets to a Successful Remodel
Join us on Thursday, February 19 at 6:00 pm
Join us on Saturday, The Secrets to Remodeling February 21 at 10:00 am a Kitchen or Bath
Love Your Home Again !
telesproperties.com
STEPHANIEYOUNGER 424.203.1828 | stephanieyounger.com
FEATURED PROPERTY OPEN SUNDAY 1-4PM 7520 McConnell Avenue | Westchester Stunning State-of-the-Art Remodel in North Kentwood 5bd 5.5ba | Offered at $1,995,000 7520McConnellAve.com
ADDITIONAL WESCHESTER OPEN HOUSES
Open Sunday 1-4pm | Entertainer’s Dream Home, Large Corner Lot 7701 Hindry Avenue | Westchester | 5bd 4ba | $1,379,000
Open Sunday 1-4pm | Charming Kentwood Haven, Tree-lined Street 6556 W. 83rd Street | Westchester | 4bd 2ba | $819,000
Open Sunday 1-4pm | Exceptional Updated Condo, Garden Patio 6922 Knowlton Place #105 | Westchester | 2bd 2ba | $525,000
Open Sunday 1-4pm | Lovely Traditional Near the Heart of Loyola 8038 Loyola Boulevard | Westchester | 3bd 2ba | $1,099,000
Stephanie Younger: BRE #01365696 ©2015 Teles Properties, Inc. Teles Properties is a registered trademark. Teles Properties, Inc. does not guarantee accuracy of square footage, lot size, room count, building permit status or any other information concerning the condition or features of the property provided by the seller or obtained from public records or other sources. Buyer is advised to independently verify accuracy of the information.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
February 2015 • Page 11
It wasn’t love at first sight for Westchester residents Nick Roberts and Brooke Williamson, but there is now love in the kitchen for the successful restaurateurs who own Playa del Rey’s The Tripel and Playa Provisions. The two met when Roberts worked as Williamson’s Sous Chef in a restaurant in Brentwood. The two often disagreed and stayed out of each other’s ways until one fateful night. “We didn’t like each other for a solid year,” recalls Roberts. “We were not social when we first met. It all came down to our boss leaving town and Brooke had to close the restaurant by herself and I didn’t want her to be by herself at night. I waited very patiently in the corner the first night. The second night we started talking and by the third night we had started dating.” Now the two have been married for eight years and have a son, Hudson, who will turn seven this month. They have used their culinary skills to build successful restaurants that are known for tasty cocktails and seasonal seafood fare. For Roberts and Williamson, the best part about working together is that both have a deep understanding of the time and commitment it takes to run a restaurant. Running their two locations in Playa del Rey and the gastropub, Hudson House in Redondo Beach, they are rarely in the kitchen at the same time these days. They
Page 12 • February 2015
cherish the rare moments where they can work together on menu changes or restaurant specials. For the two chefs, who spend much of their time making sure dishes are perfect and guests are leaving their restaurants satisfied, there is no delineation between home and work life and they wouldn’t have it any other way. “Our home life is our work life. That is one of the wonderful things about working together,” says Williamson. “We understand each other’s lives. It’s the understanding of not having to worry about your spouse or worrying when they are coming home from work.” For now, the two have their sights set on turning the space in the back of The Tripel into a retail shop that will sell cookbooks, kitchen supplies and accessories. The couple hopes to have the shop ready for business in the next few months. Entrepreneurs with a love of food at heart, they are always looking for new space for their next venture. While working with you spouse and building a restaurant empire isn’t always easy, Roberts is quick to point out the obvious perks of working with your wife. “I get to work with my best friend,” he says. Playa Provisions will be serving a four-course dinner for Valentine’s Day. For reservations, please visit their website at playaprovisions.com.
Since opening in November of last year, Ruth’s Chris Steak House has drawn customers from across Southern California looking for a fine dining experience that often includes sizzling steaks served on a 500-degree hot plate, lobster tails and an awardwinning wine list. The Marina del Rey eatery is the chain’s newest location and for General Manager Janette Han, who has been with the company for ten years, the setting couldn’t be any better. Its location in the heart of the Marina Marketplace has the restaurant, which is open seven days a week for dinner, drawing regular customers from the new apartment complexes that are located nearby, as well as from surrounding office buildings. “I love it here. The guests are happy we’re here, but we’re even more so,” said Han. “Everyone has been so welcoming. This is a tightknit community where everyone knows each other. It’s nice to see our customers out walking around.” For Han, what sets Ruth’s Chris apart from other steak houses is its focuses on the guest experience with a menu that is meant to allow guests to indulge. While it’s hard for her to pinpoint her favorite dish, she enjoys the menu items that are unique to the Marina del Rey location like the Crab Stack, the 40-ounce behemoth Tomahawk Ribeye, Chilled Seafood Tower and the Fire Roasted Corn.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
For those looking to catch up with friends or meet with business associates for a bite to eat and a cocktail, she highly recommends the restaurant’s “amazing happy hour.” The eatery’s happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and appetizers like Spicy Lobster, Seared Ahi Tuna and Crab BLT are only $8. If you’re thirsty, Han recommends the Blueberry Mojito or any of the happy hour drinks that are made with fresh hand-squeezed juice. If you’d like Valentine’s Day weekend reservations, you’d better act soon. According to Han, Valentine’s Day is booked solid, but there are a limited amount of reservations still available (as of press time) for Friday and Sunday. She says the restaurant’s ambiance, including its two patios anchored with outdoor fireplaces and its delicious dishes, will provide the perfect location for couples looking for a romantic evening. Han hopes to welcome more community members into Ruth’s Chris for a chance to share the enthusiasm she holds for the new location. “We’re excited to be part of the neighborhood,” said Han. “We are grateful that everyone has been so welcoming. It feels like home here.” Ruth’s Chris Steak House is open for dinner seven days a week and is located at 13455 Maxella Avenue #230 in Marina del Rey.
Real estate agent Stephanie Younger has traveled all over the world, but her love for Westchester has left her with roots firmly planted in the community and encouraging others to purchase homes in the neighborhood and do the same. In the thirteen years since Younger has been in real estate, first with Coldwell Banker and now with Teles Properties, a lot of changes have occurred in the once sleepy communities of Westchester and Playa del Rey. With the creation of Playa Vista and the influx of technology-focused businesses relocating nearby, the Silicon Beach moniker attached to the area has created a high demand for homes in the still relatively affordable areas of Westchester and Playa del Rey. “I think the biggest change I have seen in real estate is that people didn’t want to say that Westchester was part of the Westside,” said Younger. “Now I’ve seen an integration of this community into the Westside, which has been very positive economically. ” Another change is that people are inquiring about Westchester and Playa del Rey by name, instead of referring to it as the “area around the airport.” Fellow Westsiders looking to move south are making up the majority of people Younger is showing homes to in the community these days and she says the median home price in Westchester is now
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
$825,000 with home prices rising 11% from 2013 to the end of 2014. While price point, proximity to the freeway and large yards all help sell houses, there is another large factor in why the local real estate market is booming–the unique community feel that is so prevalent in Westchester and Playa del Rey. “The area is really benefiting from the rise of Silicon Beach. I think it’s changing the way people are looking at the neighborhood,” says Younger. “But that wouldn’t be enough to get people interested in the area, without the heart of the community. You can find comparable parts of L.A., but they don’t have the same community-driven feel. The new people are moving in because they value community and the community feel is just exploding. More and more people know about our ‘little secret.’” While helping people find the perfect home for their family takes work, her enthusiasm for Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista makes the area an easy sell. “What I probably love the most about the area is that we’re perched on top of the bluffs and you can ride your bikes and see the ocean all the way to the Hollywood sign on a clear day,” said Younger. “It’s a great way to see the community. It really has a hometown feel in the heart of a big city and I love it here.” For more info on real estate in the area, visit stephanieyounger.com.
February 2015 • Page 13
Schools
TheHTN.com
School Notes
Tickets now available. It’s school play season and numerous local schools will be holding performances in February: • Visitation Catholic School presents its second annual junior high school play on Friday, February 20 at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium. This year’s play is Alice in Wonderland and stars Visitation’s own Father Jim Forsen as Lewis Carroll. Last year’s play was standing room only, so make sure you purchase your tickets in advance to ensure seating! Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Contact Mrs. Crenshaw at screnshaw@visitationschool. org for tickets, donations or more information. • Westchester Lutheran School’s Junior Thespians will do a three show performance of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown on February 12, 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. each night. Tickets are $15 general admission and $20 for preferred seating and may be purchased at seatyourself.biz/wlcs. • Come see a stage full of talented
Page 14 • February 2015
named head football coach for Playa del Rey’s St. Bernard High School. Before joining the Vikings coaching team, Irby was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at St. Anthony High School in Long Beach. In the 2014 season, St. Anthony (11-2) reached its first semifinal since 1948 and won its first league championship. Irby has also coached at Long Beach City College and Banning High School in Wilmington.
St. Anastasia students will be performing Willy Wonka Jr. at the El Segundo Performing Arts Center in February. PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. ANASTASIA SCHOOL.
Westchester kids in Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka Jr., this year’s St. Anastasia musical performance. Join Charlie and the other ticket winners on a delicious musical adventure to Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory and take a fantasy ride into a land of pure imagination! Over 60 children in grades 5 through 8 will be singing and dancing on the stage of the El Segundo Performing Arts Center, located at 640 Main Street in El Segundo. Performances
are Saturday, February 7 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, February 8 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission ($5 for children under 15) and may be purchased in advance at St. Anastasia Catholic School at 8631 Stanmoor Drive or on the day of the performance at the theatre. For further information, call the school at (310) 645-8816. St. Bernard welcomes new football coach. Jimmie Irby was recently
Teacher Mini grants awarded. The Playa Sunrise Rotary club awarded almost $18,000 in grants to 22 Westchester, Playa del Rey and Venice public, private and charter schools at the January LAX Coastal Education Committee meeting held at Playa Vista’s CenterPointe Club. The money for the grants was donated by the club and local businesses. Principals were on hand to accept the grants on behalf of their teachers, which applied for the money late last year. In total, 71 grants were given to help fund classroom projects, equipment and field trips. March in honor of Selma. On Friday, January 30, Westchester Secondary Charter School marched (continued on next page)
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
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
(from previous page) from their campus to the Howard Hughes Center’s Cinemark Theaters for a screening of the Academy Award nominated movie Selma. Cinemark donated a screening so that more than 300 students, parents, teachers and board members could watch the movie. According to teacher Jane Andino, while the 1.5 mile march to the theater was a small token compared to the fifty miles walked from Selma to Montgomery in 1965 for Civil Rights, the goal was to help emblazon in her students’ memories the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and the Civil Rights Movement. Pictured above: Students walk through Westchester on their way to a screening of Selma.
NCWP Education Meeting. Interested in getting involved with education in the community? Join the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa’s Education Committee for its monthly meeting. Its next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Westchester Community Room, located at 7166 Manchester Ave. Meetings are generally scheduled for the fourth Wednesday of the month and are led by committee chair Michele Cooley-Strickland.
Come Join your Friends at
COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Have something to share about your school? Please email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
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.
February 2015 • Page 15
Visitation Catholic School Faith • knowledge • service • technology • enrichment Sports • Arts • Drama • Music
www.visitationschool.org 8740 Emerson Avenue, Westchester
A Catholic Tradition of Excellence Since 1947
Page 16 • February 2015
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
A Look Back at Westchester/Playa By David J. “Duke” Dukesherer, Sr.
Family traditions never leave you Your heritage and family traditions can play an important role in the way you conduct your life, but if you are like most Americans, your heritage gets sort of diluted over time but surfaces at the oddest places. In my case, I am German/Irish, English/Scots-Irish and French Canadian, and none of my relatives landed on the Mayflower, but there is an old family legend that one of my distant ancestors might have greeted the ship: in war paint. Our last name, which is German, was Anglicized during the First World War, as anti-German sentiments were running rampant in America. I don’t feel bad about this, as the ancestors of Queen Elizabeth did exactly the same thing at about the same time. We only changed a few letters, but the Mountbatten’s did a full Windsor. My family, probably stemming more from the Canadian side, was always drinking tea. It did not matter the time of day or temperature or season of the year. If there was an issue to discuss, a guest to welcome, a dinner to digest or a thought to ponder, on went the tea kettle. Tea was also the universal healer. If you had a cold or the flu or broke your arm or
heart, the whistle of the kettle was not far behind. There was in the home that I grew up in something called a front hall closet and in this closet hung dozens and dozens of coats. There were windbreakers and heavy woolen coats of every size imaginable. As I recall, no one really owned any of these coats. If you needed a coat, you just took one down that fit you, and if it did, it was yours. Of course, growing up in Southern California you seldom needed a coat, that is, unless my mother caught you leaving the house. Whether or not you wore the coat was not important, but there was no way you were leaving the house without one, especially in the fall and winter months. We had in the family, originating in that closet, a thing called a car coat. If you were heading out somewhere in the car, my mother would urge you to get a car coat. As a child, I was very confused by this. I determined at an early age that I could only wear one type of coat in the car and another if I was just out walking around. I learned many years later, that these car coats– a short woolen overcoat– originated back in the days of open cars and even before that in open horse drawn buggies and wagons. Today I own several car coats and wear them often. In a day where most people look like snow skiers when the temperature drops, I think that a
little Edwardian-style is a good thing, even in California where the only rule about clothing and style is that there are no rules. Speaking of jackets, then there was the matter of picking out a suit. There were several places in old Westchester that sold suits, including J. C. Penney, The Broadway and Monroe’s Men Shoppe, but for many of the local youth, when it was time to purchase a new suit, you were taken to the Robert Hall Clothier shop in Culver City (“Go, go, where the fashions are!). At Robert Hall, any Huckleberry could get dressed up like a film star for fifteen or twenty dollars. If it was a real special occasion or if you were the stylish type, then the May Company, Crenshaw or Brooks Brothers, Downtown was the place for you. When you spent most of your time in board shorts or Levi’s jeans and pocketed tee shirts from J. C. Penney, buying a suit was a special event. When I was 15, my father took me for my first tailored suit of clothes to Mr. Jacob’s tailor shop on Fairfax Avenue and that is quite a royal memory. It came to me while I was having a cup of tea. An old friend of mine, a former Westchester resident, does not own a single pair of trousers. He lives 365 days a year, no matter the weather, in short pants. A few years ago, his daughter was married and he made quite a stir when he showed up in
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
TheHTN.com shorts. Back in the day, the only people who wore shorts belonged to country clubs and had names like Biff and Bunky. The only shorts that I owned (except when playing sports) were surf trunks and going to and from the beach you wore a pair of Levi’s over them. How things have changed. I never saw my father in a pair of shorts. He wore traditional dirtywhite khaki trousers if he was casual, and the first pair of jeans he owned as an adult was a gift from me. He was 57 years old at the time. He explained to me once that his mother used to dress him up in shorts and funny hats with ribbons, and that he vowed he would never wear another pair of shorts in public in his life and he didn’t. I also almost never saw him wear a hat. Many of his rigid and uniform clothing habits had something to do with his time in the Army-Air Corps in World War II, and I didn’t intrude or inquire about them. This Good Friday will mark 19 years since I lost my father. A few weeks ago, I saw my mother at a family party we hold every year at the Knights of Columbus in Playa del Rey. She complimented me on my car coat.
Please email comments to dukepdr@gmail.com
February 2015 • Page 17
Calendar Ongoing monthly events: Rotary Club of Westchester The Rotary Club of Westchester meets every Wednesday at 12 noon for lunch at the Crowne Plaza LAX Hotel, located at 5985 W. Century Blvd. in Westchester. The cost of lunch is $20 and validated self parking is free. Guests are most welcome! Reservations are not required. For information regarding the upcoming luncheon programs, visit rotary-westchester.com. Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club Join the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club at its Wednesday morning meeting at 7:15 a.m. at the Marina City Club, located at 4333 Admiralty Way, Center Tower, 3rd Floor 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, visit playasunrise.org or call (310) 429-3808. Life story writing class Thinking about your life story? Learn a simple method to recall and then write your memories. The Life Story Writing Group meets every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the YMCA Annex, located at 8020 Alverstone Ave. in Westchester. The donation to the YMCA is $12 a year. For information, please call Mary Sage at (310) 397-3967. Speakers by the Sea Toastmasters Speakers By the Sea Toastmasters Club will help you improve your skills for public speaking. Meetings are held every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 12000 Vista del Mar; Conf. Room 230A in Playa del Rey. For more info, please call (424) 625-3131. LMU Walking Club Looking to get some early morning exercise while meeting new people? Join the LMU Sunrise Walking Club on Monday, February 16! The club meets the first and third Mondays of the month at 7 a.m. for a brisk 2-mile
TheHTN.com walk around campus to help kickstart your morning! Those interested in walking should meet at the flagpoles by Alumni Mall on the campus at Loyola Marymount, located at 1 LMU Drive in Westchester. For more info, please visit lmu.edu/ community. February events: Kentwood Players Presents “An Ideal Husband” The Kentwood Players kicks off their 65th anniversary year by presenting “An Ideal Husband” by Oscar Wilde through Saturday, February 14. The play will run for six-week on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. with Sunday matinées at 2 p.m. “An Ideal Husband” will be performed at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Ave. in Westchester. Full of Wilde’s well-known wit, rapid-fire repartee and social commentary, “An Ideal Husband” is a scathing satire of the British aristocracy filled to the brim with temptations, betrayals and secret liaisons. Sir Robert Chiltern, a brilliant politician and perfect gentleman, can do no wrong in the eyes of his charming wife Lady Chiltern. But when the calculating Mrs. Cheveley appears on the scene, Sir Robert’s marriage, reputation and promising career are put at risk. With his world about to unravel, Sir Robert turns to his lifelong friend Lord Arthur Goring, the most eligible bachelor in town, to extricate him from the web of lies that seeks to undermine both his public and private honor. To purchase tickets by phone, please call (310) 645-5156 during box office hours or online at kentwoodplayers.org. Medication Do’s and Don’ts Seminar Join the Silver Seminar Series for their monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 10. This month’s subject is “Medication Management Do’s and Don’ts” and will include a free medication review. The event runs from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Fire Station 5 Community Room, located at 8900 Emerson Ave. in Westchester.
Attendees will learn about common medication mistakes and what one should discuss with their doctor. Approximately one-third of people between the age of 57-85 take more than five medications. Taking too many medications increases the risk for an adverse drug reaction. The seminar will be led by Dr. Anat Louis from the L.A. City Department of Aging who will discuss the key factors to properly manage your medications. Following this discussion, Joe Chehade from Playa Pharmacy will be available to answer your questions and for a free medication review. Guests are asked to bring their medications or a list of the medications they are taking for review. Please call (310) 695-7030 to register and for more information. Republican Women’s Meeting Join the Westchester-Del Rey Republican Women for their monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 17. The club meets at 10:45 a.m. for a monthly luncheon and meeting at KJ’s Diner, located at 8731 Lincoln Blvd. The cost of the luncheon is $17.50. For reservations or for more information, please contact Carol at (310) 641-9726. Hazardous Waste Disposal Event On Saturday, February 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the County of Los Angeles will hold a household hazardous waste and e-waste roundup event. Residents can bring household items including brake fluid, paint, batteries, expired medicines, computer monitors, televisions, keyboards, printers and cell phones to the Dock 52 Parking lot located on Fiji Way off of Lincoln Blvd. in Marina del Rey. For a complete list of what you can and cannot bring, please visit lacsd. org. Pancake Breakfast The Emerson Avenue Community Garden will hold its third annual pancake breakfast on Saturday, February 28 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. to raise money for garden projects. The pancake breakfast will take place across the street from the garden at the
United Methodist Church Community Hall, located at 8065 Emerson Ave. in Westchester. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for kids 6 and under. Pancakes, sausage, juice, coffee and tea will be served. Jim Bunch Memorial Scholarship Applications Being Accepted 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 art, dance or music entry. The deadline for applications is Saturday, February 28. Candidates must be available to perform or display their artistic entry on the afternoon of March 29 at LA Arts Collective, located at 8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 105 in Westchester. 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. High School Arts Scholarship Application Being Accepted The Westchester and Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Clubs have teamed together to give a high school student an art scholarship. Those interested can apply in the categories of arts, dance, speech or music and the deadline is February 15. A competition will be held on Sunday, March 1 at the LA Arts Collective, located at 8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Suite 105 in Westchester. The winner will receive a $125 scholarship and then go on to the district competition where they have a chance to win up to a $1,000 scholarship. For more information, or to receive an application, please visit playasunrise.org or rotary-westchester.com.
Business and Professional Advertising Locksmith
WESTCHESTER HESTER LOCK WORKS ...Your Local Locksmith Who Cares About Your Safety and Security
House Callss - Lock Repair and R Replacement Installations Commercial ons and Lock outs - Co Residential Safes ial - Automotive - Safe es - Keys
(310) 640-8546 LCO# 4301 Bonded & Insured - CLA Member Page 18 • February 2015
Chiropractor
Advertise
Interested in advertising? Rates as low as $45/month. Email us at westchesterhometown @yahoo.com Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
February Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Gateway to Go! @ Crowne Plaza
1
2
Gateway to Go! @ Crowne Plaza
“An Ideal Husband” @ Westchester Playhouse
Silver Seminar Series @ Fire Station #5
St. Anastasia School Play @ El Segundo Performing Arts Center
8 Rotary Arts Scholarship Deadline
3
9
10
Presidents’ Day
Gateway to Go! @ Crowne Plaza
LMU Walking Club @ Alumni Mall
Republican Women’s Meeting @ KJ’s Diner
4 Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park
5 School Play @ Westchester Lutheran
LMU Advisory Committee @ Senior Center School Expo @ Covenant Presbyterian Church 11 Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park
12 Secrets to a Successful Remodel Seminar @ Custom Design and Construction
Saturday
First Friday @ 6200 87th Street
Farmers Market @ Playa Vista
“An Ideal Husband” @ Westchester Playhouse (through February 14)
“An Ideal Husband” @ Westchester Playhouse
6
16
17
Valentine’s Day
School Play @ Westchester Lutheran
“An Ideal Husband” @ Westchester Playhouse
13 School Play @ Visitation
Gateway to Go! @ Crowne Plaza
19
20
24
25
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
14
Farmers Market @ Playa Vista
21 Farmers Market @ Playa Vista
Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park
Jim Bunch Scholarship Deadline
Life story writing class @ YMCA Annex
23
School Play @ Westchester Lutheran
Hazardous Waste `@ Marina del Rey
Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey
22
Farmers Market @ Playa Vista
Secrets to a Successful Remodel Seminar @ Custom Design and Construction
Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey
18
7
“An Ideal Husband” @ Westchester Playhouse
Life story writing class @ YMCA Annex
15
St. Anastasia School Play @ El Segundo Performing Arts Center
26
27
Emerson Ave. Community Garden Pancake Breakfast @ United Methodist Church
28
February 2015 • Page 19
Page 20 • February 2015
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
NEW HOMES FOR 2015 “Professional Client Representation with a Personal Touch”
LIVE/WORK IN PLAYA VISTA - 13083 BLUFF CREEK BEAUTIFUL 4BR+3.5BA CUSTOM HOME....$1,895,000
Jane St. John
310-577-5300 x303 www.WestsideBeachHomes.com JaneandCarli@gmail.com BRE #00998927 If your property is already listed, this is not to be considered a solicitation. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
HIP TRI-LEVEL TOWNHOUSE - 10365 ALMAYO #4 2BR+1.5BA CLOSE TO CENTURY CITY/BEV HILLS....$599,000
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
February 2015 • Page 21
In Pictures
TheHTN.com
Love and laugh with us. February is the month of love, and you’ll find it here. The Freedom reedom from Freedom from fear fear. love of the Lord, Jesusdoubt. Christ, and the love of friends who will pray with you, laugh with you, and learn with you.
Join oin us at Westchester Lutheran Church Church,
andLent embrace thelove freedom found in join a us Even is filled with and joy here. Come oving, forgiving relationship with the lo for the Wednesday Worship Show, beginning February 25; it’s a five-week series featuring music, andof Lord. ord. Join new friends in comedy, a celebration Scripture presented in a way that will surprise and delight everything verything that is possible when you live you. in n harmony with the Word. Come worship with us. Come laugh with us. Come love with us.
All are arewelcome. welcome. All
Come celebrate with us!
Soccer champions. The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) Region 7 girls under 12 team took home first place in the Area 1D playoffs on Saturday, January 17. Region 7 includes Westchester, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Marina del Rey, Mar Vista and Inglewood. The Flamingos, led by Herb Klein, beat El Segundo, 2-2 in double overtime with penalty kicks to capture the championship. Top row left to right: Layla S., Taylor C., Brooke T., Ashley F., Katherine M., MaryAnn M., Lily K., Jada S. and Maya M. Bottom row left to right: Wendy D., Amelia R. and Anjaliyah H.
Weekly Worship and Sunday School, Sundays at 10 a.m. Confirmation, High School & Adult Sunday School, Sundays at 8:45 a.m. Weekly Worship Sundays 10 a.m. Ash Wednesday Communion, February 18,at7:30 p.m. Summer Choir Rehearsal Sundays at 9 a.m. Wednesday Worship Show, begins February 25, 72p.m. Vacation Bible School July 29-August On This Rock/Friday Night Youth Fellowship, Fridays at 7 p.m. #' ( ( %& %& $ www wlcs org www.wlcs.org
Now enrolling for Preschool through 8th Grade
GATEWAY TO GO! Every Tuesday 11 am to 3 pm @ Crowne Plaza Los Angeles International Airport 5985 W. Century Blvd. (access and street parking on 98th Street)
New brunch spot. Westchester’s Visitation Catholic Church held its first “Gourmet Food Truck� brunch on January 18 after mass. Attendees had the opportunity to meet with their neighbors and purchase brunch from the Homeboy Industries, Peaches and the Stuffed Crepes food trucks. Organizers, who also put on the Food Truck Friday Night events held May through September, were pleased with the event and hope to hold another one in the future. PHOTO BY ANNA CODY.
FABULOUS FOOD ON FOUR WHEELS.
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!
Born 12/19/14 at 11:02 p.m. to parents Brendan & Courtney O’Donoghue and siblings Addison & Gabe
FEBRUARY 17
FEBRUARY 24
ALEGRIA GOURMET TRUCK HANG 10 TACOS FRY FRY FOOD TRUCK DOT SAIGON STREET FOODS CO.
GREENZ ON WHEELS JOGASAKI SUSHI BURRITO WOODY’S GRILL ROLL’N LOBSTER PEACHES SOUTHERN BBQ
HAUTE BURGER TAINAMITE THE CHILI PHILOSOPHER THE SURFER TACO COUSINS MAINE LOBSTER
PRESENTED BY
Jared Brendan O’Donoghue
FEBRUARY 10
* food truck participants subject to change
www.gatewaytola.org
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK FOR WEEKLY UPDATES
6 lbs. 13 oz. 19 ½ inches
Page 22 • February 2015
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL OF WESTCHESTER / PLAYA Working together to improve our communities!
Neighborhood Councils exist to: ‡ JLYH QHLJKERUKRRGV JUHDWHU LQÀXHQFH RQ GHFLVLRQV PDGH E\ ORFDO JRYHUQPHQW ‡ PDNH JRYHUQPHQW PRUH UHVSRQVLYH WR ORFDO FRPPXQLWLHV ‡ XQLWH WKH ORFDO FRPPXQLW\ WR LPSURYH WKH TXDOLW\ RI OLIH LQ RXU QHLJKERUKRRGV
Attend NCWP Committee Meetings
Airport Relations 0HHWV DV QHHGHG 3OHDVH FKHFN ZHEVLWH IRU WLPH DQG ORFDWLRQ
7KH 1HLJKERUKRRG &RXQFLO RI :HVWFKHVWHU 3OD\D KDV HLJKW VWDQGLQJ FRPPLWWHHV WKDW GLVFXVV YDULRXV WRSLFV RI LQWHUHVW WR RXU FRPPXQLW\ 7R OHDUQ DERXW WKHVH LVVXHV LQ PRUH GHSWK SOHDVH WDNH WKH WLPH WR DWWHQG RXU FRPPLWWHH PHHWLQJV DQG OHW \RXU YRLFH EH KHDUG
Community Services 0HHWV DV QHHGHG 3OHDVH FKHFN ZHEVLWH IRU WLPH DQG ORFDWLRQ
BOARD MEETING )LUVW 7XHVGD\ DW S P &RPPXQLW\ 5RRP # :HVWFKHVWHU 0XQLFLSDO %XLOGLQJ : 0DQFKHVWHU $YH Government Affairs 7KLUG 0RQGD\ DW S P 'HO 5H\ +LOOV &KXUFK 6DUDQ 'U LQ 3OD\D GHO 5H\ Planning & Land Use 7KLUG 7XHVGD\ DW S P &RPPXQLW\ 5RRP # :HVWFKHVWHU 0XQLFLSDO %XLOGLQJ : 0DQFKHVWHU $YH
Budget and Finance 0HHWV DV QHHGHG 3OHDVH FKHFN ZHEVLWH IRU WLPH DQG ORFDWLRQ
Education )RXUWK :HGQHVGD\ DW S P &RPPXQLW\ 5RRP # :HVWFKHVWHU 0XQLFLSDO %XLOGLQJ : 0DQFKHVWHU $YH Outreach 0HHWV DV QHHGHG *HQHUDOO\ )RXUWK )ULGD\ DW D P &RPPXQLW\ 5RRP # :HVWFKHVWHU 0XQLFLSDO %XLOGLQJ : 0DQFKHVWHU $YH 3OHDVH FKHFN ZHEVLWH IRU WLPH DQG ORFDWLRQ Public Safety 0HHWV DV QHHGHG 3OHDVH FKHFN ZHEVLWH IRU WLPH DQG ORFDWLRQ
MyLA 311 Smartphone Mobile Application 0\/$ SXWV WKH SRZHU RI &LW\ +DOO LQ WKH SDOP RI \RXU KDQG :LWK 0\/$ &LW\ RI /RV $QJHOHV LQIRUPDWLRQ DQG VHUYLFHV DUH MXVW D IHZ WDSV DZD\ 0\/$ OLQNV $QJHOHQRV ZLWK WKH VHUYLFHV DQG LQIRUPDWLRQ WKH\ QHHG WR HQMR\ WKHLU FLW\ EHDXWLI\ WKHLU FRPPXQLW\ DQG VWD\ FRQQHFWHG ZLWK WKHLU ORFDO JRYHUQPHQW 7KH µ6XEPLW 6HUYLFH 5HTXHVW¶ IHDWXUH DOORZV \RX WR TXLFNO\ DQG HDVLO\ UHTXHVW WKH &LW\¶V PRVW SRSXODU VHUYLFHV LQFOXGLQJ JUDI¿WL UHPRYDO SRWKROH UHSDLU DQG EXON\ LWHP SLFNXS <RX FDQ NHHS XS WR GDWH ZLWK WKH ODWHVW &LW\ +DOO 1HZV E\ EURZVLQJ WKURXJK RXU )DFHERRN 7ZLWWHU DQG <RX7XEH IHHGV 1R PRUH VWDPSV DQG HQYHORSHV QHHGHG 0\/$ DOVR DOORZV \RX WR SD\ \RXU /RV $QJHOHV :DWHU DQG 3RZHU ELOO ULJKW IURP \RXU PRELOH GHYLFH )RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ LQFOXGLQJ ZKHUH WR ORFDWH FLW\ VHUYLFHV DQG IDFLOLWLHV YLVLW lacity.org/MyLA311/index.htm
Planning and Land Use Committee Reviews Proposed Development Projects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Â&#x2021; 3UHVHQWDWLRQ E\ 7KUHH L[W\ &RQVXOWLQJ UHJDUGLQJ FRQVWUXFWLRQ RI PXOWL IDPLO\ UHQWDO XQLWV RQ DSSUR[LPDWHO\ VTXDUH IRRW ORW ORFDWHG DW /D 7LMHUD Â&#x2021; 3UHVHQWDWLRQ E\ /DZVRQ &RPSDQ\ UHJDUGLQJ WKH FRQVWUXFWLRQ RI UHQWDO XQLWV LQ VTXDUH IHHW ZLWK DQ DGGLWLRQDO WZR OHYHOV RI XQGHUJURXQG SDUNLQJ DQG D UHVLGHQWV¶ DPHQLW\ GHFN Â&#x2021; 3UHVHQWDWLRQ E\ 0LUDVRO 'HYHORSPHQW //& UHJDUGLQJ SURSRVHG GHYHORSPHQW RI D VRODU SKRWRYROWDLF SURMHFW RQ 7KRUQEXUQ ERXQGHG E\ /D 7LMHUD DQG /D &LHQHJD ,Q WKH SDVW SURMHFWV WKDW KDYH EHHQ YHWWHG E\ WKH 3/8& DQG 1&:3 LQFOXGH DQG DUH QRW OLPLWHG to: Â&#x2021; /$:$ 1RUWKVLGH Â&#x2021; ([SDQVLRQ RI 1LFKROVRQ %OYG LQ 3OD\D GHO 5H\ Â&#x2021; 5HVWDXUDQWV %DUV UHTXHVWLQJ &RQGLWLRQDO 8VH 3HUPLWV WR VHUYH $OFRKRO Â&#x2021; 3OD\D 9LVWD Â&#x2021; ³-DNH¶V /RW´ LQ /RZHU 3OD\D GHO 5H\ Â&#x2021; $ YDULHW\ RI /$:$ SURMHFWV Â&#x2021; 7KH /08 0DVWHU 3ODQ Â&#x2021; $QG PDQ\ PRUH 7KH 1&:3 DQG 3/8& HQFRXUDJHV DOO PHPEHUV RI WKH FRPPXQLW\ WR DWWHQG WKH FRPPLWWHH PHHWLQJV ZKHUH SUHVHQWDWLRQV DQG LQ GHSWK GLVFXVVLRQV DUH KHOG RQ DOO WKH SURMHFWV WKDW XOWLPDWHO\ FRPH EHIRUH WKH IXOO 1&:3 ERDUG IRU D ¿QDO UHFRPPHQGDWLRQ
ZZZ QFZSGU RUJ Â&#x2021; Westchester â&#x20AC;¢ Playa del Rey â&#x20AC;¢ Marina del Rey â&#x20AC;¢ Playa Vista HomeTown News
February 2015 â&#x20AC;¢ Page 23
Page 24 • February 2015
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News