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HOMETOWN
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista
July
your community newspaper • your community • WESTCHESTER • PLAYA DEL REY • MARINA DEL REY • PLAYA VISTA • your community newspaper • your community
Family continues to ask for prayers for car accident survivor Monday, June 11 is a day that Westchester resident Brittany Gunnell’s family and friends will never forget. That’s the day that while riding her bicycle home after rehearsing her role as “Grace” in the play “Annie,” she collided with a car on 77th Street and Emerson. As fate would have it, her mother, Denise O’Brien, was driving down the street and happened on the scene right after the accident. There she found her daughter, 20, unconscious in the street, with an ambulance on the way. Since then, Gunnell has remained hospitalized at the Ronald Reagan
UCLA Medical Center, with her family and friends holding vigil at the hospital, praying for her recovery. Gunnell spent 18 days in a coma and has undergone numerous surgeries to deal with a fractured skull and brain swelling. She currently has a tracheotomy tube and has been hooked up to breathing machines. Said O’Brien, “We have total faith in the excellent care and doctors at UCLA. I have numerous clients and friends who work here who continue to ensure us that we are in the right place at the right time. It is a very difficult process to watch, but to see her move her head
and say ‘no’ or watch her wiggle her toes are all steps in the right direction for her recovery.” A website created to keep people up-to-date with her condition at www. caringbridge.org/visit/brittanygunnell, now has almost 20,000 visits from those interested in tracking her progress. The road to recovery will be a long process, with many challenges, an, hopefully, victories ahead. Due to her injuries, she has also had to deal with pneumonia, fevers and fluctuating intracranial pressure. Her left eye was (continued on page 6)
Gunnell was involved in a car accident on June 11.
Parade, fireworks ensure festive Independence Day This year, community members have numerous events to help celebrate the Fourth of July. Starting at 11 a.m., the LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its 13th annual Fourth of July Parade beginning at Loyola Boulevard at Manchester Avenue. This year’s theme is a “Tribute to America’s Pastimes,” and will feature 66 entries, making this year’s event the largest in parade history. The parade’s Grand Marshal is Los Angeles Kings’ Hall of Fame Announcer Bob Miller. Limited bleacher seating will be available at 83rd Street at Loyola Blvd. Guests are encouraged to bring their own low-back beach chairs or blankets to sit on the curb. The parade is expected to last around two hours. For more information, please call (310) 645-5151 or check out the Parade Program starting on page 9. After the parade, the Elks Lodge, located at 8025 W. Manchester Avenue in Playa del Rey, will be holding a barbecue. Tickets are $10 and will feature a performance by “The New Directions Veterans Choir.” After a hiatus due to budget cuts, the Marina del Rey Fireworks are back this year, thanks to the generous support of
community sponsors. Said Supervisor Don Knabe, “I would like to extend a special thank you to the generous sponsors who stepped up to help bring this holiday tradition back to Marina del Rey. Families from all over Los Angeles County will be able to spend their Fourth of July holiday watching a spectacular fireworks show light up our beautiful coastline.” The display this year is presented by the famed Zambelli Fireworks Internationale. The fireworks are choreographed to patriotic music, which will be broadcast in sync with the display over FM radio KXLU, 88.9 on the dial. Those watching may tune their radios to listen to the simulcast. The music will be relayed over loudspeakers in Burton Chace Park for onlookers. Burton Chace Park, located at 13650 Mindanao Way and Fisherman’s Village, located at 13755 Fiji Way, as well as the beaches in Marina del Rey and Playa del Rey, are premiere viewing locations for the fireworks. For additional information about the 2012 Marina del Rey Fourth of July Fireworks Show, please visit marinadelrey.lacounty.gov.
At left: MOMS Club members march in last year’s parade. PHOTO BY GLENN MARZANO.
A look inside your
HomeTown
4 Homeless advocate named Rotary Citizen of the Year 9 Parade Program
Page 2
Happy 4th of July and Happy Summer! … SEE REVERSE SIDE …
INVITED FOOD TRUCKS … SEE IM5 NEWS ON REVERSE SIDE … SEE IM5 NEWS ON REVERSE SIDE …
FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 5:00pm – 10:00pm VISITATION SCHOOL GROUNDS
8740 S. Emerson Ave., L.A. (Westchester), 90045 Take Out Available at All Trucks
15+ GOURMET FOOD TRUCKS Live Music by
PURE PLAY BAND www.pureplayband.com
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SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE
Congratulations Visitation School Class of 2012!
At 8:30pm by the HOT NEW GROUP
-ADMISSION -PARKING (8810 Emerson Ave.
Adult School lot & ample on streets)
-MOVIE FOR THE KIDS -ENTERTAINMENT
Thank you Playa Vista, and Congratulations are in order... Playa Vista’s Sibyl Buchanan (center), with Visitation School, Class of 2012 Graduates and PV Education Trust Scholarship Recipients, (l-r) Julia Locke, Kelly Huben, Timothy Cruz and Kiejstut Bunikiewicz.
• O’Malley’s Pub (beer, wine, margaritas) • Face Painting by Ella • Dessert Stop Café (bakery and ice cream treats) • Movie for the Kids – 6:00pm The Little Mermaid II-G im5band.com • Roller Skating – 7:15-8:15pm & 9-10pm (Must have own helmet and guards. BYO skates or rent ours – Info. & requirements on website).
• Appreciation Events (Amazing Discounts on Entertainment, Sports and Travel)
AN EVENT the entire community will enjoy! FOOD TRUCK Menus/Updates online at www.visitationschool.org Contact Terry for more information terry_oconnor2012@yahoo.com / 310.994.9904 terry_oconnor
… SEE REVERSE SIDE …
PROUD SPONSOR OF THE LAX COASTAL AREA CHAMBER’S 13TH ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY PARADE Food Truck Friday Nights–SAVE THE DATES: July 20, August 17 and September 21
Visitation School A Catholic School For All Children
Full Day Junior Kindergarten & Kindergarten Through 8th Grade
School tours and Junior Kindergarten and All-Grade preview days may be scheduled school-year round. We invite you to call and schedule your VIP visit (310) 645-6620.
Strong Home-School Partnership “A Catholic Education Is An Advantage for Life”
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR ENROLLMENT A Vistitation School Graduate is Well Prepared and READY for High School of Choice
• WASC Accredited – WCEA Certified •
A Catholic Tradition of Eaxcellence in Education Since 1947 HOME OF THE 2012 CYO GIRLS SOCCER
CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING TEAM
Educating the WHOLE CHILD in a CHRIST Centered Environment • Challenging Curriculum • State of the Art Computer Lab • Spanish • Guidance Counseling • Visitation Voices Choir
• Music and Art Programs • After School Day Care • Algebra I • Gateway to Art • Choice Lunch Program • CYO Sports
• After School Enrichment Program: Drama, Cheer, Karate, Playball, Guitar, Piano and Golf • Science Lab
8740 So. Emerson Avenue, Westchester, CA 90045
Phone: 310-645-6620 • 24/7 Phone: 310-994-9904 • Fax: 310-645-4460 • jsmitley@visitationschool.org
Visit Us At: www.visitationschool.org
July 2012
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Page 3
T h i s M o n t h B r i n g s Yo u July Features Homeless advocate named Citizen of the Year 4 5 First set of birdhouses installed at Discovery Park 6 20th Anniversary of Rod’s Day 9-20 2012 Fourth of July Parade Program July’s To Do 22 Gaining Independence from what’s bothering you 23
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 Stephanie Davis, Publisher, Editor Fay Craton, Contributing Writer David “Duke” Dukesherer Sr., Looking Back
Nora Lee Owens, Humor Mishele Viera, Contributing Writer Jack Younger, Contributing Cartoonist
Advertisers’ Directory Business and Professional Ballerini Cooley Studios California Mentor Cantalini’s Salerno Beach Covenant Presbyterian Church Custom Hotel El Segundo 5-Minute Car Wash Food Pantry, LAX H.B. Drollinger Co. Hornblower Cruises Jane St. John Kevin & Kaz Laura and Jack Davis Los Angeles World Airports VIP Loyola Marymount University Mina Bharadwa Nora Lee Owens
21 4 8 19 7 19 23 7 8 25 27 27 16 7 12 27 27
11 Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary 25 Promenade at Howard Hughes 15 Playa Vista 20 Neighborhood Council 14 Real Estate Consulants 17 Saint Anastasia School 26 South Bay Brokers 11 Stephanie Younger 17 Tony P’s Dockside Grill 4 Urbansitter.com 18 Vergari & Associates 2 Visitation School 24 Waterside Marina del Rey 7 Westchester First Friday 3,6,13 Westchester Lutheran 3 Westchester Town Center BID Westside Neighborhood School 15 26,28 Zacha Homes
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“Before I start training clients at 5:30 a.m. at my personal training studio, I like to stop at Starbucks for a (very) early morning cup of coffee. During the mid-day, I usually do my banking/investments with Lisa at Chase Bank. On Wednesdays, I like to stop into the Farmers’ Market to grab some fresh fruits and vegetables.”
Westchester Lutheran School has a place for students in Preschool through 8th grade. At Westchester Lutheran School, all are welcome, all are valued, and all are enabled to excel. Our faculty, staff, parents, and extended church family work together to support our students throughout their journey, supplying them with the educational emotional, and spiritual resources they need to make that journey as successful as possible. Call for a tour.
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Page 4
Community Homeless advocate named Citizen of the Year
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On Wednesday, June 27, Playa del Rey resident, Booker Pearson, was named the Rotary Club of Westchester’s 2012 Citizen of the Year. Pearson is a dedicated homeless advocate who has worked tirelessly to assist the homeless living in the community, as well as Los Angeles area, get access to housing and additional services to help them get off the street. Pearson, who is a member of the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa (NCWP) and the chair of the Homeless and Vehicular Living committee, spearheaded the recent effort to bring together city and county resources to implement a plan to transition the homeless out of Westchester Park after “No Parking Overnight” signs were posted. His efforts helped the people living there, which Pearson knows by name, receive resources from various community groups and government agencies. Booker is also a strong proponent of PATH (People Assisting the Homeless), which was integral in collecting data on the homeless living in the Ballona Wetlands, Westchester Park and the surrounding areas. Pearson often assists PATH in their outreach efforts. Said Pearson at the event, “This is
truly an honor to be honored by such a great group of people and all of what you do in so many other areas... Over 40-percent of the cost of our prison system is because we neglected our children when they needed us most. That is going to continue until we stop this insanity of leaving homeless children on the streets. I hope that we become more enlighted and that good people, like the Rotarians, become more active and outspoken about this tragedy.” Pearson is also a founding member and on the board of the Santa Monica based non-profit group Upward Bound House. Upward Bound House provides temporary housing for families while they work to become self-sufficient and transition to permanent housing. More than 90-percent of families that pass through the program are able to make this transition one year after they leave the program. Said Westchester/Playa Field Deputy for Councilman BIll Rosendahl, Nate Kaplan, “Booker Pearson is a rare find. The City is so fortunate to work with someone so dedicated to improving the lives of those less fortunate and Booker does it without any incentive or promise of personal gain, but always with a smile. No matter how early,
Booker Pearson addresses the Rotary Club after receiving the Citizen of the Year Award, while friend and Rotarian, Nora MacLellan, looks on.
or how late in the day, Booker can be found talking to and helping the homeless individuals and families throughout the Westchester/Playa community.” The award comes the same week that Pearson was appointed as a commissioner for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). LAHSA is the lead agency in the Los Angeles Continuum of Care and coordinates and manages over $70 million dollars annually in Federal, State, County and City funds for
programs providing shelter, housing and services to homeless persons in Los Angeles City and County. Said Rotarian Geoff Maleman who serves with Pearson on both the NCWP and the Upward Bound House boards, “No one does more for homeless children and their families than Booker Pearson. He spends every moment of every day working to find homes for people on the street. It’s an honor to know him and be inspired by his dedication.“
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Page 5
First set of birdhouses installed at Discovery Park Loyola Marymount University’s Center for Urban Resilience (CURes), Westchester Enriched Science Magnet High School and Friends of Playa Vista School have united to construct and install birdhouses for the indigenous Tree Swallows that live in Playa Vista. The first installation of around 30 bird houses took place on Saturday, June 30 at Playa Vista’s Discovery Park. The park, set to “display the history of the Ballona Wetlands as seen through aspects of culture and science,” is set to open to the public later this year. Led by Dr. Eric Strauss and his team at CURes, the birdhouses will provide nesting opportunities for the birds with hopes of increasing their population and beimg able to study their nesting habits. CURes, which serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research and community-based urban ecology citizen science programs, is the premier center for sustainability and urban ecology studies in Los Angeles. At the event, Strauss, conducted a walking tour and spoke about the area’s ecology, the park and the tree swallow program. The birdhouses were made by the shop students at Westchester Enriched Science Magnet High School and were given to the Friends of Playa Vista School (FPVS), a parent organized non-profit formed to support the new Playa Vista Elementary School opening in August. Supporters of the school had the opportunity to purchase birdhouses
to decorate as a fundraising effort. The group hopes to raise $10,000 for the Kindergarten through fifth-grade school. Birdhouses will eventually be installed throughout the Riparian Corridor and Discovery Park in Playa Vista later this summer and monitored with video cameras for field investigation by LMU student interns. “Playa Capital is delighted to support the Playa Vista residents, Westchester Enriched Science Magnet High School and LMU’s Center for Urban Resilience in their work enhancing habitat for local wildlife. Environmental awareness is a hallmark of our community, and it is great to see this value fostered in local children,” said Marc Huffman, Vice President of Planning and Entitlements for Playa Vista. Community members can adopt and paint a birdhouse for a donation of $100, which will go to support the Playa Vista Elementary School. To order a birdhouse, please contact Lynn Kataoka at lkataoka@ca.rr.com. The supplies for this project were donated by local community businesses including Yummy.com, Piknic Restaurant, Playa Pilates, McClintock Dental Group, Marina Veterinary Center, the Westchester Branch of State Farm Insurance and Glidden Professional Paint Center. For more information on Discovery Park, please visit www.lmu.edu/cures/ Discovery_Park.
Bird boxes like the ones pictured above were installed at the June 30 event at Discovery Park.
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Vote Today at www.thehtn.com Vote For your Favorites in Categories Like the Ones Listed Below and Others: • Best Restaurant • Best Family Restaurant • Best Burger • Best Small Business • Best Desserts • Best Pizza • Best Bar • Best Breakfast • Best Date Night Restaurant • Best Mexican Food • Best Italian Food • Best Restaurant Atmosphere
• Best Happy Hour • Best Seafood • Best Coffee Shop • Best Hidden Gem • Best Art Gallery • Best Performance Space • Best Community Event • Best Nightlife • Best Non-Profit • Best Manicure • Best Hair Salon • Best Place to Pamper Your Pet
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–VOTING ENDS FRIDAY, JULY 6– Winners will be Announced in our August edition! July 2012
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Page 6
Brittany Gunnell (continued)
(continued from page 1) injured in the accident, and according to O’Brien, despite a scar on her cornea, she will eventually be able to see out of it. Swelling of the brain also has made it hard for Gunnell to move her left side and O’Brien has asked for prayers to “restore and completely heal Brittany’s left side of her body, including her left eye, her left arm and her left leg, that she may walk and move freely all parts of her body!” Still, the family looks to the encouraging signs of improvements like Gunnell remembering friends she hasn’t seen in a long time, asking for a Snapple to drink, or trying to talk despite the tube in her throat. These little triumphs give them hope that miracles are possible and Gunnell will make a full recovery. Said O’Brien, “The prognosis is a full recovery. I have absolute trust in God that she will walk out of here.”
It is O’Brien’s faith and the outpouring of love from family, friends, community members and even strangers from throughout the country who have read her story, that keep her and her family positive during this difficult time. Despite all of the progress she has made since the accident, everyday brings a new set of challenges and often setbacks. Friends and visitors have kept Gunnell’s family company, while they spend hours in the ICU. Little acts of kindness like neighbors stocking her fridge, cleaning her home and bringing the family food, have allowed O’Brien to focus all her of energy on her daughter and her recovery. Coming home late one night from the hospital, O’Brien even found a new 10-speed bike at her door to replace the one that was damaged in the accident. Said O’Brien, “The only thing that has gotten me through this besides
my faith is the outpouring of love and support from my friends, family and local churches...It is so touching because Brittany is such a bright light and everyone knows that she is a beautiful soul. At night, it’s a nice feeling to read all of the prayers. It’s pretty darn incredible to have so many friends; it’s a great feeling to have such an outpouring of support.” The hope is that after Gunnell is released from the hospital she will stay briefly at an acute care center before she transitions back to home, where she can resume her passion for singing and performing. Said Music West President Jeff Remington who has worked with Gunnell on a number of community plays, “Brittany is easily one of the most selflessly talented people I have met. One of the only characteristics that surpasses her tremendous talent for singing and acting is her humility. Her
dedication to her family, friends and faith, and the way she so beautifully balances that dedication with the use of her talents, has always been a model to me and the many other fellow cast and crew members of our organization throughout the years. Brittany’s unassuming manner when one interacts with her only contributes to the consistent reaction when she takes to the stage....an overwhelming ‘wow.’ We are confident that Brittany will continue to recover, and are impatiently looking forward to her wowing us all on stage once again!” While Gunnell still fights to recover from her injuries, O’Brien asks for the communities’ continued positive thoughts and prayers. To stay up-to-date with Gunnell’s progress, people can visit www. caringbridge.org/visit/brittanygunnell.
20th Anniversary of “Rod’s Day” to raise money for cancer research Rod’s Day will take place on Saturday, July 14, starting at 3:45 p.m. at Mo’s Place, located at 203 Culver Blvd. in Playa del Rey. The event has been held for the past 7 of its 20 years at Mo’s. The Hawaiian-themed party features a sky-diving exhibition at 3:45 p.m., a delicious buffet for donors in the evening, multiple raffles and a silent auction. All proceeds go to the
July 2012
California Oncology Research Institute (CORI) in Los Angeles, a non-profit cancer research institute. Since 1993, Dennis Fasone has hosted the annual event to raise funds for cancer research in memory of his son, Rod Fasone, who began his fight against colon cancer in 1990, during his Junior year at Indiana University. Although only given 60 days to live
at the time of diagnosis, Rod ended his fight in December 1992, an inspirational two years later. For 20 years, Rod’s Day has been dedicated to supporting Dr. Bilchik’s research efforts and CORI. Friends and family locally, and from around the U.S., will again meet, celebrate and donate at this event. CORI, having a strong belief in the
power of collaboration, works with other laboratory facilities thus keeping donations raised for research channeled to research. CORI has alliances with researchers in the United States, Europe, Australia and Israel as well as the U.S. Army Medical Corps, all with a common mission to find a cure for cancer.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Page 7
Surprise horseback riding lesson brings back memories By Marlene Migliazzo Dale Evans would be proud if she had seen Westchester resident, Beverly Migliazzo, calmly riding a horse for the first time in sixtyeight years. Her surprise visit to the Wagon Wheel Stables in Palos Verdes was a birthday present for her eightyfifth birthday. Migliazzo started riding horses in 1937 at Durfee Stables, which was located at Slauson and Centinela. Her riding teacher also coached the star in the 1930’s movie, Wuthering Heights. Her favorite horse at the time, a dapple grey, was named Dotty. An uncle’s farm in Arlington near Riverside, also provided some horse time for the avid rider. There she rode American Standard horses, pulled a sulky and gave friends hayrides. Riding was a passion tucked away with memories of growing up as she graduated from high school, began a job in banking and dated the WWII veteran who would later become her husband. After marriage in 1949, and the birth of three children in four years, horse rides were only a dream until June 11, when she was told to put on her boots and to be ready for a surprise. Her family took her to the stables, where owner, Pat, treated
Migliazzo gets on a horse for the first time in 68 years.
her like a queen. She donned a riding helmet, gingerly mounted the horse and with a little supervision, rode off into the sunset. The gleam in her eyes and the sway of her body, told a story, not of a wife of sixty-three years, nor the mother of three children, but of a confident young woman who was holding on to a dream that was hers alone. Happy Birthday mom...Never say, “Whoa.”
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
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COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Worship Service 10:30 am Canines@Covenant 5:00 pm Sunday Covenant on the Corner 80th and Sepulveda Blvd.
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July 2012
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Page 8
Looking Back...
• your community newspaper • your community newspaper • your community
By David J. “Duke” Dukesherer Beginning in the 1800’s, the Ranchos La Ballona and Centinela, later called Westchester, were the home to a vibrant farming and ranching community and remained so well into the 1960’s and beyond. Up and down Manchester and Jefferson Boulevards, fruit stands sold very fresh produce from local farms. Surrounding the longest private runway in the world at Hughes Airport, and across the street at Lopez Ranch, hundreds of acres were set aside to cultivation. I was by no means a farmer, but I did have something to do with the food business in those days. In 1969 I became a box-boy at a grocery store in Culver City called Royal Market. I sold Christmas Trees in the parking lot the previous year, and worked odd jobs the year before that. I was hired at the princely sum of $1.91 an hour and loved every minute of it. The California minimum wage in 1970 was $1.65 an hour. The market was part of a chain of stores that my father ran, although he was better known in the area for opening the Shoppers Market at Lincoln and Manchester Boulevards (later Lucky’s, now called Ralph’s Market), some years before. To get to the location on Washington Boulevard, you needed to head north down Lincoln Boulevard (I often did this on foot), past the Howard Hughes
DEWEY WEBER’ SURF SHOP, 1968. The Lincoln Boulevard location is now home to Action Watersports.
airport and through the Ballona Wetlands, over the bridge at Ballona Creek, past Dewey Weber’s new surf shop (the first was in Venice near Hoppyland, where I bought my first new board), past the new town of Marina Del Rey, and towards what some locals still called Barnes City and finally right into the heart of the former Rancho la Ballona. Dewey Weber (1938-1993) was still at the shop most days. He would do yo-yo tricks for you and tell great stories about the old days of surfing and how it all began. Besides being an excellent surfer, Dewey was a national yo-yo champion. He soon closed the
Make a Difference. Be a Care Provider and Mentor.
shop and moved it to Hermosa Beach. On a street corner near the Marina, sometimes there was a funny old guy dressed as a pirate, complete with a genuine peg leg and a sign directing people to the recently opened Pieces o’ Eight restaurant. He had a live talking parrot on his shoulder (and a steady trail of parrot-droppings running down the back of his pea-coat) and would yell all kinds of pirate gibberish when you passed by him on foot or in a car; so did the parrot. As real estate prices rose in the 1970’s and 1980’s, farmers cashed in and sold their land to developers, essentially ending a farming and
THEN AND NOW: LOOKING EAST--TOWARDS WESTCHESTER, 1968. It is hard to believe that much of Westchester was still farmland well into the late 1960s. Celery, Lima beans, strawberries and cauliflower, were favorite local crops. Lopez Ranch was the last owner owned open-air produce stand in Los Angeles. It was originally leased to Eiichiro Murayama a Japanese-American farmer who would lose his farm when he was interred at Manzanar during WWII. Early ranchers praised the land for the good access to water and the natural “corral” that the bluffs provided. FROM THE DAY THE CIRCUS CAME TO TOWN; MAE MURRAY—1925– IN PLAYA DEL REY, CA– SOON TO BE RELEASED BY THE AUTHOR.
ranching tradition that dated back to the California Rancho Days. Comments: dukepdr@gmail.com
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HomeTown News’ Official Parade Program
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H a p p y Four th o f J ul y! Chamber Welcomes New Chairman Tony Palermo Every year, the Fourth of July Parade is the first public event for the LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce’s new Chairman and Honorary Mayor. This year, the Chamber is proud to introduce Chairperson Tony Palermo and Honorary Mayor Beverly Moore to the community. Palermo is already widely known in the community thanks in part to his namesake restaurant, Tony P’s in Marina del Rey, and for his generosity. Since opening Tony P’s in 1997, Palermo and his partner, Danny Ringwood, have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to local schools and non-profit groups
through their “Dockside Dollars” fundraisers. Palermo has also donated hundreds of hours to the community by mentoring young chefs on the rise and volunteering at local community events. For his philanthropic efforts, Palermo has been recognized by the Chamber with the Friends of Education award and with the Community Leader of the Year Award by the Boys and Girls Club of Venice. He recently was named the recipient of the 2012 Small Business of the Year by Assemblymember Ted Lieu. Palermo was past president of the Los Angeles chapter of the California Restaurant Association and is an
History of 13th Annual Fourth of July Parade The LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce didn’t set out to facilitate what is now arguably the community’s largest event, but since it’s inception thirteen years ago, the Chamber has played the leading role in putting this event on for the community.The Chamber definitely loves the Fourth of July! The first parade was meant to be the culmination of a series of events held by the Westchester/Playa del Rey Historical Society to help celebrate the millennium. Realtor and longtime Westchester resident, Mary Lou Crockett, spearheaded the idea for the Fourth of July Parade and knew that in order for a parade to be feasible, the Historical Society would need to form a partnership with someone or something. With its strong community ties, teaming up with the Chamber created an ideal alliance. The Chamber is now the sole entity that organizes and oversees the entire parade operation. Months of planning and hundreds of hours of organizing, locking down parade entries, securing sponsors and navigating the complicated city permitting process are all part of putting on this quality event for the community. Although the first year of the parade committee members were nervous that no one would show up at the event, now thousands of community members and visitors flock to Loyola Boulevard to see this true hometown event. The parade committee is honored that so many people turn up year after year, to not only view the parade, but also to show their support for their community, their country and the Chamber. The parade would not be possible without the dedication of local groups who work to create entertaining and quality floats; the parade committee who works tirelessly volunteering their time to this event; the residents of Loyola Blvd. who allow us to hold an event on their street and all of the families that line the street on July 4. We hope you enjoy this year’s parade!
Wishing You and Your Family a Safe and Happy Fourth of July! –The HomeTown News July 2012 • Parade Program
active member of the Marina del Rey Convention and Visitors’ Bureau. Said Palermo, “I love this community and the Chamber and I look forward to serving as this year’s Chairman of the Board. It will be a great experience meeting new members and working with the community to help make our Chamber even more dynamic.” Palermo will be seen in the parade twice this year. Make sure you look for him at the end of the parade in his Tony P’s truck with all of the American flags! Palermo lives in Westchester with his wife, Lauren, and has two daughters, Francesca and Nicolette. Tony Palermo and his wife, Lauren. PHOTO BY MARC ELLIOTT.
Parade Announcers
Allen Kerstein Alan Kerstein has served as Commander of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Pacific Area Station, Chief of the Los Angeles Unified School District Police Department and Chief of Police in Henderson, Nevada, where he headed the state’s second-largest police department. Allen is still active in the community and helps every chance he gets.
Viet Tran Viet Tran is Region Manager for Southern California Edison. Viet is no stranger to the 4th of July Parade as this will be the fourth year that he has served as one of our parade route announcers. Serving the Parade is always a homecoming for Viet since prior to joining Edison, he worked for the City of Los Angeles and served as Westchester/LAX/ Playa del Rey District Deputy to former L.A. Councilmember Ruth Galanter.
Kevin Walsh Kevin is a professor at LMU and works with numerous Fortune 500 companies on how to communicate. He recently received a Doctorate in Psychology in Organizational Consulting. He is also active in numerous organizations including Action Without Borders, LMU, MEND and Undershare.
Parade Committee and Volunteers The Fourth of July Parade would not be possible without the work of these dedicated Parade volunteers. Parade Committee: April Ballard-Hirt Tony Ciancimino Judith Ciancimino Christina Davis Stephanie Davis Rachel-Ann Levy Courtney O’Donoghue Genevieve Peters Rob Nelson Gwen Vuchsas
Jim Vuchsas Volunteers: Sean Corrigan Brendan O’Donoghue Cathy Perez Cozette Vergari Kathrine Russell Mark Williamson Susie Stocum Wayne Stocum Diane Barretti Steve Rhodes Hannah Levy
Cory Mellor Evan Pacewicz Dr. Kenneth Pride Lorraine Pride Richard Moon Larry Plotkin Howard Pollack Judy Delavigne Robert Diver Tina Eddy The Gooden Center Crew
The Chamber and the Community
Most people recognize chambers of commerce as business organizations that advocate on behalf of their members. While working to promote business is a major part of the mission of the LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce, one of its mottos is “the perfect blend of business and community.” The majority of its board of directors live and work in the community and are also committed to a number of other non-profit boards that promote making our community a strong place to live, work and raise a family. Putting on the parade every year is a labor of love
for the Chamber, its staff and committee volunteers who work for months to put together the two hour event. While the parade is the Chamber’s largest community event, the Chamber is also a strong advocate of education through its Education Committee and Teacher Eddy Awards. The organization also work closely with a variety of groups to collaborate on such events as the Halloween Window Painting Competition and the Protectors Breakfast.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Introducing Honorary Mayor Beverly Moore One of the first items of business for the incoming Chairman is to select his Honorary Mayor. This year’s chamber ambassador of “goodwill,” who will assist in ribbon cuttings and promoting the Chamber to its member and the community, is Beverly Moore, Executive Director of the Marina del Rey Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). To say Moore is passionate about travel is an understatement. Moore hails from Virginia and her whole career has been centered in the tourism industry. From her first job working for the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington D.C. leading press
tours for foreign journalists, to helping start-up the Santa Monica CVB, to her current position promoting the Marina as a unique and happening tourist destination, Moore is a bastion of knowledge in all things tourism and hospitality. It was in her position at the Santa Monica CVB where she first met Palermo, who at the time owned the bar “Teasers” on the Santa Monica Promenade. Said Moore, “He has been such an important leader and he is so committed to this area. That personality and commitment affects both visitors and locals and that connection is what tourism is really about. It’s all about
LMU’s Float will feature Iggy the Lion, who was also seen in this year’s Rose Parade to celebrate LMU’s 100th Anniversary!
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person to person.” When Moore is not hard at work putting the Marina on the map for tourists from all over the country and the world, she enjoys traveling to rustic out of the way places like Sicily and Corsica. Said Moore, “I feel so lucky and blessed to be part of the community. The Chamber is so committed to representing the will of the community, and is not just interested in business, but also the prosperity of the area. It understands its larger responsibility. If I can represent some of that, it is an honor to me.” Bev Moore is this year’s Honorary Mayor.
Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club Wishes You a Happy 4th Of July! We would like to invite you to our annual Pancake Breakfast at Fire Station No. 5 on Saturday, July 28, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. We meet every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott 13480 Maxella Avenue, Marina del Rey, CA 90292 Call (310) 429-3808 for details
STEPHANIE YOUNGER & TELES PROPERTIES WISH YOU A HAPPY AND SAFE 4TH OF JULY!
GIVE TOGETHER Supporting Westchester, Playa Del Rey, and surrounding neighborhoods to make a difference.
ST E P H A N I E YO U N G E R 424.203.1828 stephanieyounger.com
July 2012 • Parade Program
To make a difference in our community, we will GIVE TOGETHER by donating 5% of the net proceeds from every home sale to the local charity of our client’s choice. Contact me for more information and for all of your real estate needs. Teles Properties, Inc. does not guarantee accuracy of square footage, lot size or 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
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Drum Roll Please...Line of March
1. LAPD Pacific Area Cadets Color Guard 2. Salute to America– Parade Sponsors 3. Los Angeles #1 Hog Chapter 4. Boy Scouts of America 5. MOMS Club of Playa del Rey & Westchester 6. LAPD West Traffic 7. LAPD Captain Peters 8. Great Pyrenees Alliance of the West 9. Visitation School 10. U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters 11. Los Angeles Arts Collective 12. Marina del Rey Hospital 13. LA JAMZ Drum & Bugle Corps 14. Grand Marshal: L.A. Kings Hall of Fame Announcer Bob Miller 15. Masonic Lodge Southern California #529 16. Assemblyman Steven Bradford, 51st Assembly 17. Fresh Brothers Pizza 18. Wendy Greuel, Los Angeles City Controller 19. St. Anastasia School 20. Venice-Marina Lions Club 21. TRASH 22. Chamber Chairman Tony Palermo
23. Westchester del Rey Little League 24. Knights of Columbus 25. Bill Rosendahl, Los Angeles City Councilman 26. Westchester Town Center BID 27. Soldiers of the U.S. Army Coastal Recruiting Company 28. Uncle Sam 29. City Sound Drum & Bugle Corps 30. Westchester Elks Lodge #2050 31. Kentwood Playhouse 32. L.A. Deputy Mayor Eileen Decker 33. Retro Prom 2012 34. Westchester Playa Clergy Association 35. AYSO Region 7 36. Los Angeles World Airports 37. Caporales San Simon, CA, USA 38. Aviation Innovation 39. Church of the Messiah Community Kids Chorus 40. NCWP Star of the Neighborhood 41. 62nd AD Republican Central Committee 42. Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary 43. Music West, Inc. 44. Emerson Community Garden 45. LAFD Firetrucks
46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58.
Honorary Mayor Beverly Moore Loyola Marymount University Westchester Family Y Service Club Westchester Family YMCA Indian Guides Locke High School Marching Band Westchester/Playa Education Foundation WISH Charter School The Game Sports Bar & Grill L.A. Dream All Stars New Directions Choir Del Rey American Little League Westchester/PdR Girl Scout 100th Anniversary Lifetime Achievement in Education Honoree: Rosemary Connolly 59. Westside Neighborhood School 60. Real Estate Consultants 61. Westchester Lutheran Church & School 62. Elite Mobile Detail & Carwash with President Christina Davis 63. Westchester Secondary Charter School 64. Mariachis 65. Charro Horses 66. Tony P’s Dockside Grill
Judging As the floats and entries line up along Manchester, they will be judged by three community members. Judges will award three prizes this year: Best Overall Entry, Best Theme and Honorable Mention. The winners will be given banners to carry in front of their float for the crowd to see.
Vivienne Kwong
Tony Palermo
Stephanie Davis
This year, we welcome Vivienne Kwong, General Manager of the Howard Hughes Center; Tony Palermo, Chamber Chairman and owner of Tony P’s Dockside Grill; and Stephanie Davis, Owner of the HomeTown News.
Did you know? At 66 parade entries, this year’s parade is the largest in parade history!
TRIBUTE TO AMERICA’S PASTIMES LMU is proud to be a part of our vibrant community. We salute our alumni that produced championships in football, basketball, volleyball, golf, tennis, soccer, water polo, softball, swimming and rowing. We invite you to come to LMU and support our teams as we build upon our rich history, during the 2012 -2013 academic year. For more information, visit www.LMU.edu
July 2012 • Parade Program
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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July 2012 • Parade Program
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About the Parade Entries...
LAPD PACIFIC AREA CADETS The LAPD Pacific Area Cadets are once again leading off our parade and proudly carrying the American flag. It has become a tradition for this group to open the parade. The Cadets range in age from 14 to 20 and work in close partnership with the LAPD Community Relations.
SALUTE TO AMERICA – EVENT SPONSORS This event WOULD NOT be possible without the generosity of our sponsors. To help us kick off the event, we have carrying our great flag many individuals representing the companies that have stepped up to the plate to ensure the success of this event. Let’s make sure to give them a BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE! Admiral Sponsors: Budget Southern California, Decron Properties, Drollinger Properties, Equity Office Howard Hughes Center, HomeTown News Saluting Sponsor: Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa Patriot Sponsors: Clement Partners, Loyola Marymount University, Mercury Air Group, Playa Vista Friends of the Parade: Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary, Rainbow Acres Natural Foods, The Gas Company, Westchester Elk’s Lodge #2050 Firecracker Sponsors: Fresh Brothers, Supervisor Don Knabe, Masonic Lodge Southern California #529, Rotary Club of Westchester, Stephanie Younger Real Estate, Vergari & Associates, Visitation School, Westchester Lutheran Church and School and Zacha Homes LOS ANGELES #1 HOG CHAPTER The LA#1 HOG Chapter out of Bartels’ Harley Davidson has been a member of the community since 1992. An organization of over 100 men and women who have a passion for the open road, an adventurous epicurean spirit (they love good food), and a love for all things Harley. From Southern to Northern California and even
July 2012 • Parade Program
out of state, LA #1 HOG has traveled a lot of roads, taking time out to give back when they can by participating in such charities as The B.A.D. Ride (Bikers Against Diabetes) and The Guide Dogs of America Ride. LA #1 HOG has been a proud participant in the Westchester 4th of July Parade since the beginning and is glad to be here in the 13th year of the celebration!
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA Boy Scout Troop 716 has been a Westchester fixture for decades, graduating over 60 Eagle Scouts. Scouting provides a strong program of achievement, leadership, teamwork, and service for boys ages 11-17. Troop 716 enjoys a busy calendar of outdoor adventures such as hiking, camping, and backpacking, as well as learning new skills, earning merit badges, and working their way through the scout ranks to Eagle. Troop 716 wishes the community a happy 4th of July. MOMS CLUB OF PLAYA DEL REY AND WESTCHESTER The MOMS Club of Westchester and Playa del Rey is an international club that supports mothers in our community. Moms Offering Moms Support (MOMS) aims at assisting stay-at-home and work-at-home mothers as well as local groups and charities. Service projects have included delivering May Day flowers to a local retirement community and a no-host baby shower for babies in need. This year’s entry in the parade salutes one of America’s greatest pastimes...its families! LAPD WEST TRAFFIC MOTORS The LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce proudly salutes our area’s protectors and thanks them for their service to our community. LAPD PACIFIC AREA BOOSTERS ASSOCIATION Captain Jon Peters is from the Pacific Area Community Police Station. Riding with the Captain is Diane Barretti, President of the Pacific Area Boosters Association. GREAT PYRENEES ALLIANCE OF THE WEST Great Pyrenees originated in the Pyrenees mountains, where they guarded sheep flocks.
They were the court dog of Louis XIV, and George Washington received 2 Pyrs from General Lafayette. They are still livestock guardians; and compete in conformation, agility, obedience, rally and carting; and as Pet Assisted Therapy dogs. Several of the dogs are Certified Therapy Dogs. GPAW has a rescue program placing Pyrs in “forever” homes. These beautiful, loving dogs make great family pets. If interested in a Pyr rescue, talk to a member of the group. Just look for the big white dog!
VISITATION SCHOOL Welcome to School Pride, School Sports and School Spirit at Visitation School. A premier JK through 8 elementary school in Westchester, Visitation has been known for its “Catholic Tradition of Excellence in Education, and Educating the Whole Child in a Christ Centered Environment” since 1947. Visitation’s Cheer Squad precedes members of Visitation’s CYO 2012 Girls Soccer Championship Winning Team. The CYO Champs are directly followed by their Coach, Mr. Jim Locke, who is joined in his Classic Caddy ride, by Visitation’s 6th Grade - “Teacher of the Year,” Mrs. Claire Bush. Next in the line up - the Visitation School Spirit Express Train is a rolling “Pep Rally”. Visitation’s Principal, Mr. Christopher Watson, invites you to come on over to Visitation Parish and School for a big “TEAM SPIRIT” WELCOME! US CONGRESSWOMAN MAXINE WATERS United States Congresswoman Maxine Waters is serving her eleventh term representing the citizens of California’s 35th district, which includes Westchester, Inglewood, Hawthorne, Gardena, Lawndale and parts of South L.A. She is joined today by her husband, Ambassador Sidney Williams. Congresswoman Waters is a strong advocate in Washington for our Seniors, Veterans and public Schools and will continue to fight against airport expansion into our neighborhoods.
corner of Sepulveda and Westchester Parkway. The Los Angeles Arts Collective is now the home of Vergari Dance Center, a Westchester institution for over 30 years! These performers are excited to be a part of the Westchester 4th of July parade and look forward to dancing, acting, creating and performing here in the community. MARINA DEL REY HOSPITAL Step inside Marina Del Rey Hospital and you’ll find a team of highly talented and specialized professionals that believe caring, warmth and true compassion go hand-in-hand with medical excellence. The hospital’s mission is to enhance your life by providing you with nationally recognized physicians dedicated to providing you with focused care and a healthier lifestyle. Marina Del Rey Hospital is located on Lincoln Blvd., just minutes from Los Angeles International Airport, and is the closest emergency room to the Westchester community. Marina Del Rey Hospital- Around the clock, around the corner, emergency services you can trust. LOS ANGELES JAMZ DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS This is Los Angeles JAMZ Drum and Bugle Corps’ second appearance in the Westchester July 4th Parade. The group is honored to be participating again this year. LA Jamz is always recruiting for their Youth Arts Organization, which offers participants, ages 10-18, the chance to learn to play an instrument or to be part of the color guard, which involves coordinated dance moves while marching. Check them out at LAJAMZ.org to see what they have been doing and to join in the fun!
LOS ANGELES ARTS COLLECTIVE Joining us are the performers from the NEW Los Angeles Arts Collective, the fabulous performing arts studio that just opened on the
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
About the Parade Entries...
GRAND MARSHAL– HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCER BOB MILLER, LA KINGS Hockey Hall of Famer Bob Miller is in his 39th season as the “Voice of the Kings” -- the first 17 years simulcast on TV and radio and the last 21 years as the exclusive television voice of the team. A native of Chicago, Miller, 73, received his degree at the University of Iowa where he started his broadcasting career doing Hawkeye football and basketball games. Along with his duties for the Kings, Miller’s voice has accented numerous TV and film projects, including “Cheers,” “Rollerball,” “Miracle on Ice,” “The Mighty Ducks” and “The Mighty Ducks 2.” A resident of West Hills, Bob and his wife Judy have a married daughter, Kristin, and a son, Kevin.
MASONIC LODGE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA #529 The local Masonic Lodge, Southern California #529, salutes the volunteering and charity that makes up such a large amount of our pastimes. Their focus this year is on several of the charities that the lodge has supported with time, money and effort over the past several years. This includes the “Raising a Reader” program, investing thousands of dollars with the grand lodge of California to assist with children’s reading programs throughout the state. They also support the “Tour de Cure” to help raise money for Diabetes research. The Lodge meets the first Thursday of the each month. Give them a call at (310) 3544064. CA STATE ASSEMBLYMAN STEVEN BRADFORD Steven Bradford is the California State Assemblymember, representing the 51st Assembly District in the California Legislature, representing the communities of Playa Vista and Westchester. Assemblymember Bradford currently serves as the Chair of the California State Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee, where he focuses on supplier diversity, stimulating green job opportunities for all Californians and balancing investments in new technologies with ratepayer protection.
Happy Birthday America from Assemblyman Steven Bradford!
FRESH BROTHERS Meet “Freshie,” the Fresh Brothers pizza mascot. Fresh Brothers is located between Starbucks and Chipotle at the Waterside Center in Marina Del Rey. Fresh Brothers makes family dining fun again by making it easy to enjoy a meal with your kids. Fresh Brothers delivers to Marina Del Rey, Venice, Westchester Playa Vista & parts of Mar Vista. You can win a Fresh Brothers gift certificate today by taking a picture of yourself with the Slice and posting it to their Facebook page. LOS ANGELES CITY CONTROLLER WENDY GREUEL Wendy Greuel was sworn in as City Controller of Los Angeles on July 1, 2009, the second woman to be elected to a citywide office in the City’s history. Wendy brings to the Controller’s Office a unique combination of government, business and community leadership experience. Wendy is a lifelong Angeleno, who was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley and attended UCLA. Wendy is joined today by her husband and son. Happy Birthday America from the Greuel Family! ST. ANASTASIA SCHOOL St. Anastasia Catholic School and Parish was founded in 1953 to serve the fast-growing Westchester/Playa del Rey area and remains a vital and thriving spiritual community. St. Anastasia gives back to the neighborhood through the involvement of students and parishioners in the physical and spiritual life of Westchester and neighboring communities through Christian service projects within the local area. As a K-8th grade school, St. Anastasia stands out through academic excellence, teaching with technology and expanded math and science curricula. The goal is to create future leaders with strong character and Catholic Christian values. Today, Pastor Monsignor Gabe Gonzalez rides with new St. Anastasia School principal Mike Muir. Welcome to Westchester, Mike! This dynamic duo will be in place to take the school and parish into the future, by building on the
Saluting our country.
And our future.
past. And what parade could be complete without our ever-present mascot, Peppy the Panther.
VENICE-MARINA LIONS CLUB Motto: “We Serve.” The Venice-Marina Lions Club was founded in 1924. Lions Club International is made up of 46,000 Clubs and 1.35 million members in 207 countries. It is the world’s largest Service Club. In 1925, Helen Keller challenged the Lions to become “Knights of the Blind.” They have since worked tirelessly to aid the blind and visuallyimpaired and have almost eradicated preventable blindness in Third World countries. The Club supports various community programs and the Lions Wilderness Camp for Deaf and Physically-Challenged Children. TRASH “TRASH,” the trash can band, is the musical percussion group that makes music out of trash. Trash cans are the staple of the group’s performance. They create music and songs on 33, 13 and 10 gallon steel trash cans.
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State Championship and wound up at the Junior Softball World Series in Kirkland, Washington, winning 1st Place in the United States and 2nd Place in the World. Go girls go! KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic Men’s Organization, officially chartered as a fraternal benefit society in 1882. The Order is still true to its founding principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. The Westchester/Playa del Rey council, Father Emil Kapaun Council 3744, named after an Army Chaplin, was established in 1953. From their initial membership of 100, the current membership stands strong at 400, 4th largest in California. The Color Corp, lead by Paul Condran and followed by the Worthy Grand Knight, Bob Wright, Chancellor Alex Padilla, escort the float. On the float is our Past Grand Knight Chris Lopez and council members that have served our country in various foreign wars: Vincent A. Migliazzo PGK (WWII-Army); Joe Vezzetti (Korea-Navy/Airforce); Earl Ricks (Korea - Marines); Don Glaza (Vietnam- Army); and Tom Zvanovec (Vietnam –Army).
CHAMBER CHAIRMAN TONY PALERMO Better known as Tony P., Tony Palermo is the co-owner of Tony P’s Dockside Grill in Marina del Rey. In his role as Chair, Tony will serve as a figurehead in our local LAX coastal business community. Since 1997, when Tony P’s first opened its doors, Palermo has donated thousands of dollars and hours to the community, be it mentoring young chefs on the rise or donating to local schools and community events. Palermo was past Chair of the Los Angeles Chapter of the California Restaurant Association and is currently an active member of the Marina del Rey Convention & Visitors Bureau. Joining Tony today are his lovely wife Lauren, his daughter Nicolette and, as always, Michael Bermudez is tagging along! WESTCHESTER DEL REY LITTLE LEAGUE The League was founded by Mary Ann and Kent Mace in 1974 and had approximately 50 girls playing. Today, the league has grown to over 400 players playing on over thirty-seven teams. In 2010, the girls won the Southern California
Happy Fourth of July! Playa Vista: A Great Neighbor and
Academic Excellence • Character • Diversity • Community
An Urban Model for L.A.
www.playavista.com
DK-8 Independent Day School 5401 Beethoven St., Los Angeles, CA 90066 310.574.8650 www.wnsk8.com
CAIS and WASC Accredited Member of NAIS
July 2012 • Parade Program
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About the Parade Entries...
LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCILMAN BILL ROSENDAHL Los Angeles Councilman Bill Rosendahl represents the 11th District, which includes the communities of Brentwood, Del Rey, Mar Vista, Marina del Rey, Pacific Palisades, Palms, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Venice, West LA and Westchester. Riding in the parade with Councilman Rosendahl is his field deputy for the LAX Coastal Area Nate Kaplan! Happy 4th of July from your Councilman!
WESTCHESTER TOWN CENTER BID Whether you’re enjoying the matching boulevard furniture and decorative lighting or the street banners and ambassador assistance along Sepulveda Boulevard, they are brought to you by the Westchester Town Center Business Improvement District and funded by the property owners and businesses. Since it began, the BID has provided landscape lighting and maintenance along Sepulveda Boulevard, street sweeping, sidewalk pressure washing, trash collection, graffiti removal, and homeless services coordination throughout the entire Westchester Town Center area. The BID has even planted 120 new street trees. This year, the BID will hold its fourth annual Halloween Town Fair on Saturday, October 27, featuring rides, games, food and more! Mark your calendars now! SOLDIERS OF THE US ARMY COASTAL RECRUITING COMPANY Marching today are the Soldiers of the United States Army Coastal Recruiting Company. The Coastal Company is a part of the US Army Los Angeles Recruiting Battalion, responsible for finding the best qualified men and women to enlist in the Army Reserve and Active Duty Army that serve this community and the nation as a whole. The Coastal Company has offices in Culver City, Inglewood, and Torrance, staffed by highly professional Recruiters, many of whom are California natives that volunteered to come back to their communities and recruit the next generation of Soldiers. The Coastal Company is led by Captain Benjamin P. Brownlee and First Sergeant Joe R. Flores.
UNCLE SAM AND AUNT SAMANTHA Here he is ladies and gentlemen, the man with the white beard and the tall hat making his 13th visit to the parade. This is a very special visit as this year is Uncle Sam’s 200th birthday. Happy birthday Sam!!!! Riding again this year with Sam is his very special guest Aunt Samantha. Representing the ladies of America, it takes a team to beat these hard times!! Sam and Samantha are played by Hal fisher and Vickie Miller of Westchester’s own Kentwood Players.
CITY SOUND DRUM & BUGLE CORPS City Sound Drum and Bugle Corps was created in June 1997. When creating City Sound, the goal was to develop an organization and program that would give youth and young adults of diverse cultures, life experiences and faiths an opportunity to develop their music potential to the fullest. WESTCHESTER ELKS LODGE #2050 The Westchester Elks Lodge #2050 is a charitable non-profit organization helping the community, veterans and disabled children. This year, the California/Hawaii Elks Association has donated over 2.5 million dollars to fund pediatric care for children in need. The officers and members are enjoying one of America’s favorite pastimes, boating! The Elks Lodge is located at 80025 W. Manchester Ave in Playa del Rey and will be hosting a barbeque following the parade – all are welcome! KENTWOOD PLAYHOUSE Westchester’s oldest live theater group, Kentwood Players, celebrates the great American pastime of attending live theater performances, a tradition dating back to the birth of our nation - and beyond all the way back to ancient Greece. Up next at the Westchester Playhouse is “DOUBT, A Parable” the Tony-award winning play by John Patrick Shanley opening Friday, July 13 through August 18. Students from the Kentwood Kids theater program perform two plays a year. Let’s give them a big round of applause like a good audience always does after a
great theater performance!
Facebook!
LOS ANGELES DEPUTY MAYOR EILEEN DECKER Joining us today is Deputy Mayor, Eileen Decker. In her role with the City, Eileen works to oversee and advance all aspects of the Mayor’s public safety policy initiatives, emergency preparedness and counter-terrorism policy, serving as the principal liaison to federal, state and local law enforcement, and administering over $400 million in federal and state criminal justice and homeland security grants awarded to the City of Los Angeles. She is joined today with her husband, Keith Jacoby, and her son, Sean Decker-Jacoby.
LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS The Airport Police Division is responsible for the safety, security, and protection of the traveling public, visitors, employees, and property in and around Los Angeles International Airport. The Airport Police is the largest airport police agency in the United States and the fourth largest law enforcement agency in Los Angeles County, with over 1000 personnel, including over 500 sworn officers. The Mission of the Airport Police is to provide world-class law enforcement and security services for the protection of all persons and property.
RETRO PROM 2012 The RETRO PROM 2012 entry celebrates the All-American pastimes of music and dance. The second annual RETRO PROM 2012 will take place October 6 at the Westchester Elks Lodge. Hosted by legendary DJ Richard Blade, proceeds from this fabulously fun, adults-only dance party benefit Kentwood Elementary School, one of our community’s exemplary K-5 schools. For more information, visit RetroProm2012.com or email RetroProm2012@gmail. com. RETRO PROM 2012: We’re not old, we’re retro!!!! AYSO REGION 7 American Youth Soccer Organization, Region 7 has been a Westchester mainstay since 1971. In its fifth decade, Region 7 is driven by its singular mission to bring soccer, a favorite American pastime, to the youth in our community. AYSO is our neighborhood’s largest organized youth sports program, providing an exceptional, year-round, team experience to more than 1,300 boys and girls, ages 4-18, and powered 100% by volunteers who champion its core values. Join us on the field, visit us on the web (www.ayso7.org) and like us on
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120 Montreal, Playa del Rey Duplex/Steps to the Sand $1,025,000
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7933 W. 80th St., Playa del Rey $875,000 Remodeled, Single Level 3+3 $849,000
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7336 89th Street Westchester $585,000
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Parade Grand Marshal Hall of Fame Announcer Bob Miller We are honored to have Hockey Hall of Famer and Kings’ Announcer Bob Miller as our Grand Marshal in this year’s parade! Miller is in his 39th season as the “Voice of the Kings” and he is the recipient of the Foster Hewitt Award, which recognizes members of the radio and television industry that have made outstanding contributions to their profession. The plaque is located in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Miller also has a star on the Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame, which he received in 2006. Miller has been named the top television play-by-play announcer in Southern California seven times, and in February of 2011, he was inducted into
the California Sports Hall of Fame. Along with his duties for the Kings, Miller’s voice has accented numerous TV and film projects, including “Cheers,” “Rollerball,” “Miracle on Ice,” “The Mighty Ducks” and “The Mighty Ducks 2.” A resident of West Hills, Bob and his wife, Judy, have a married daughter, Kristin, and a son Kevin.
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St. Anastasia CATHOLIC SCHOOL
National Anthem Singer: St. Bernard student Brianna Cooper Brianna Cooper is set to begin her senior year this fall at Saint Bernard High School in Playa Del Rey, where she is an active scholar, student leader and performer. Cooper is a naturalborn entertainer and she has enjoyed singing and dancing since she was two years old. Brianna has starred in numerous musical
theater productions and also has performed at many school events, community functions and dramatic plays. Brianna has also received awards and recognition for her outstanding vocal abilities. Brianna is active in the Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church Children and Youth Choir and the Praise Team ministry.
OPEN ENROLLMENT for students K-8!
SETTING THE STANDARD FOR
Academic Excellence
St. Anastasia Catholic School offers students a well-rounded and challenging curriculum in a balanced and stimulating learning environment that enables children to grow spiritually, thrive academically and flourish socially. St. Anastasia students graduate to the top high schools— then onto the colleges of their choice.
Happy Fourth of July from the BBQ capital of the marina!
For admissions information or to find out more, visit our website at school.st-anastasia.org. St. Anastasia Catholic School 8631 S. Stanmoor Drive Los Angeles, CA 90045 310.645.8816 school.st-anastasia.org
4445 Admiralty Way • Marina del Rey (310) 823-4534 www.tonyps.com Academics July 2012 • Parade Program
Enrichment
Technology
Community
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Page 18
About the Parade Entries...
CAPORALES SAN SIMON CA USA Joining us for the first time is the Caporales San Simon made up of troupe of men, women and children of all ages. This Bolivian folkloric dance troupe performs with highest expression, energy and enthusiasm. Boy can they shimmy! AVIATION INNOVATION – FLYING CAR
Building airplanes and innovation are true American and Southern California pastimes. The CaraVellair is an affordable roadable aircraft being developed locally by Caravella Aerospace. Today, you are getting an exclusive first look at this home built, one-of-a-kind, street-legal, experimental airplane that is a real-life transformer. The final product will be sold as a kit so you can build one for yourself. Follow its progress and get involved through their website. CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH COMMUNITY KIDS CHORUS Introducing the Messiah Congregational Church Community Kids Chorus directed by Yoly Tolentino! Since music has been eliminated from many elementary schools, the Congregational Church of the Messiah employed a talented musician who loves kids to teach music to children free of charge at the church. Parents of children 4-12 are welcome to sign up and bring their children to rehearsals on a weekly basis during the school year. It’s a great way for your child to learn to love music. NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL “STAR OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD” This year’s Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa Star of the Neighborhood is Robert Mogck. Robert is a life-long resident of Westchester who exemplifies community pride.
He observed that our major thoroughfare streets were dirty, overgrown with weeds and in need of beautification. Instead of complaining, he took action by coordinating for clean-up with the LA Conservation Corps and Clean and Green. More heartwarming is the action he has taken on our streets throughout Westchester where he has done a lot of the work himself. Robert, thanks for caring! PLAYA VENICE SUNRISE ROTARY The Rotary Club of Playa Venice Sunrise is a local service club that has been a long time parade sponsor. This is their first float entry and salutes their Venice heritage with a gondola filled with President Jim Vuchsas and his grandchildren along with club members, their families and friends. As members of the world’s oldest service organization, Rotarians live their motto “Service Above Self” and strive to improve the lives of those who may be less fortunate. The Playa Venice Sunrise Rotarians wish their neighbors a Happy Fourth of July! MUSIC WEST Just like baseball and barbecues, enjoy another of those wonderful American pastimes - let’s go to the show! Music West proudly presents the hit Broadway musical, “Annie” from July 13-21 in Westchester! Visit www.musicwest.org for all of the details about this exciting organization! Brought to you by Music West, your local nonprofit community theater group dedicated to providing Broadwaystyle entertainment, always in a family-friendly atmosphere. EMERSON AVENUE COMMUNITY GARDEN Westchester has its roots in agriculture, having been covered for years with fields of lima beans. This tradition continued during World
War II, when Victory Gardens were a common home grown war effort. Residents, by planting, tending, and harvesting vegetables and herbs, worked together in harmony, sometimes in coop gardens which allowed for a greater variety of food. These Victory Gardens helped draw Westchester together. Today, the Emerson Avenue Community Garden at Orville Wright Middle School aims to carry on that tradition, creating a sustainable organic community and school garden space. Please join us in celebrating one of America’s oldest pastimes gardening!
BEV MOORE, LAX COASTAL AREA CHAMBER HONORARY MAYOR This year’s honorary mayor for the LAX coastal area is Bev Moore, Executive Director of Marina del Rey Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). At the CVB, Bev is responsible for marketing and promotion of Marina del Rey as a visitor destination. She is a native of Virginia and a graduate of the University of Richmond. In the world of tourism, she’s “The Girl!” And speaking of Marina del Rey, you won’t want to miss the fireworks this evening starting at 9 p.m. LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY FLOAT ENTRY Here’s the Loyola Marymount University float. LMU, a proud founding member of the Westchester community, is one of the premier Catholic universities on the West Coast. The university is sponsored by the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary – the Marymount sisters – and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. LMU is known for its strong academics and its Division 1 sports teams. Riding on the float are LMU alumni and their children.
WESTCHESTER FAMILY “Y” SERVICE CLUB This year, Y staff members are marching with Westchester Y Service Club members with signs highlighting the many camps of the Y. We proudly present Karen Bradley Follette, the Executive Director of the Westchester and Culver Palms YMCAs and her son Declan, in a vintage white 1964 Plymouth Signet Convertible. Our second car features this year’s YMCA “Kids Need Heroes” recipients Mary Ellen and Alan Cassman, and traveling with them are longtime Y Service Club members, Bill Rosebaugh, Don Pierce and Bob Neece. Our final vehicle, a Pearl colored Ford 150, a “tricked out” double cab truck provided by and driven by Erinn Bailey and his wife, holds a number of Y Service Club members known to many in Westchester. The Westchester Y Service Club, through the years, has been a strong supporter of Y Camp programs. So, let’s all go to YMCA camps, an “American Tradition.” WESTCHESTER YMCA INDIAN GUIDES AND INDIAN PRINCESSES The Westchester Family YMCA Indian Guides and Indian Princesses is a father/son and father/daughter program designed to build strong lifelong relationships between parents and their children. The Indian Guides program is open to all parents with children in kindergarten through third grade. The Native American theme is used respectfully to bring traditional, nature-themed values and an organizational structure into the program. Our “Anopi Nation” is led by Chief Dave “Running Mouth” Cowan. For more information, please call our Westchester Family YMCA and ask for Matthew Gallimore, Sports & Family Life Director, at ( 310) 670-4316. Please Welcome the Braves and Princesses of the Anopi Nation!
A lot goes into making a parade float!
Check out these pictures of members of the Emerson Community Garden Club hard at work creating their float. Make sure to check out the finished product on Parade Day!
VERGARI & ASSOCIATES attorneys & counselors at law
Happy Fourth of July!
For Your Safety and Convenience While at the Parade Happy Fourth of July! While having fun and exciting the crowd with all of the parade’s floats and marching bands is our goal, safety is our number one priority! A Red Cross Station is located at the
eastside corner of 85th and Loyola. Port-a-potties are located at: • 83rd and Loyola • 80th and Loyola • Manchester and Loyola
Our staff strives to build long term relationships with our clients We are committed to providing professional services with integrity
ESTATE PLANNING and FAMILY LAW
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COZETTE VERGARI Attorney & Counselor at Law 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 1580, Los Angeles, CA 90045 310.410.4014 LAXLawyers.com
July 2012 • Parade Program
Meet the Flying Car
Joining us for the first time this year is the CaraVellair being developed by Caravella Aerospace. This vehicle hopes to solve the issue of needing a plane when you are driving a car and needing a car when you flying a plane! Caravella Founder, Joe Caravella Jr., who has a B.A. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering has dedicated his life to creating an affordable roadable aircraft kit. The CaraVellair
you see today is registered with the DMV as a motorcycle and with the FAA as an experimental aircraft. For Caravella, the mission is to create a roadable aircraft that potentially anyone could purchase, build and use. Next year, Carvella hopes the prototype will be ready to make its first flights. This is a great example of one of America’s greatest pastimes, innovation and invention!
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
About the Parade Entries...
LOCKE HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING SAINTS Marching in this year’s parade is Alain Leroy Locke High School Marching Band, home of the Saints, whose colors are proudly shown today in blue and gold. The Marching Saints have had several LAUSD City Championships which include: 2007 - 3rd Place (1st Music Honors) LAUSD Champs, 2008 - 1st Place LAUSD Champs and 2009 - 1st Place LAUSD Champs. WESTCHESTER/PLAYA EDUCATION FOUNDATION The Westchester/Playa Education foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the enhancement and advocacy of the public schools in Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista. Through the leadership efforts of the foundation in fundraising, researching, developing and marketing our public schools, in partnerships with educators, families, local government and the business community, our local public schools will have just the right ingredients to become even more delectable! Just wait until you see what we’re cooking up next! Go Public! WISH CHARTER SCHOOL WISH Charter Elementary School is a public independent charter school that has been an active part of the Westchester community for two years. A member of the LMU Family of Schools, WISH Charter has an instructional philosophy that rests upon the concepts of hands-on learning, meaningful instructional activities, systematic instruction, and a collaborative group of professionals working together to make the learning environment exciting for students. Evidence-based teaching strategies are tailored to meet individual development. This year, WISH Charter celebrates the fun American pastime American Bandstand. THE GAME SPORTS BAR & GRILL Located in the heart of Los Angeles, G|S Game Sports Restaurant Bar & Lounge is your one stop for an awesome atmosphere, great service, and delicious food. The Game has over 20 big screens, so no matter where you sit you’ll never miss a play! Dine-in, to-go, and catering available! G|S offers the freshest homemade food made
daily. Their quality ingredients ensure the best possible menu items available for your friends and family. They look forward to your visit.
LA DREAM ALL STARS LA Dream is an all star cheerleading program serving our local youth. They provide first rate instruction in all star cheerleading, dance, and tumbling. At LA Dream, they believe that the core values shaping our young athletes center on strong work ethic, personal character, teamwork, discipline and perseverance. They are dedicated to providing children and teens with positive experiences and memories that will last a lifetime. NEW DIRECTIONS CHOIR The New Directions Veterans Choir is an award winning a cappella group that sings renditions of doo-wop, soul, traditional gospel and popular music. The Choir consists of current and former residents of New Directions’ transitional facility. The New Directions Veterans Choir recently performed for NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” and has been featured on the NBC Nightly News and E! Entertainment Television. DEL REY AMERICAN LITTLE LEAGUE Over 200 boys and girls, ages 5 through 12, participate in the DRALL. Today, DRALL is being represented by many of its players, including members of the all-star teams. Come on out and enjoy an afternoon of little league baseball. For more information about DRALL, visit their website at DRALL.ORG. WESTCHESTER/PLAYA DEL REY GIRL SCOUT 100TH ANNIVERSARY To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of Girl Scouts, former leaders and Girl Scouts from Westchester and Playa del Rey are here today. They will be celebrating the anniversary with an ice cream social and alumni reunion this Saturday, July 7th. Please join us if you were a leader or a former Girl Scout. Find us on Facebook at “Westchester Girl Scout Reunion.” LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN EDUCATION HONOREE ROSEMARY CONNOLLY Riding with her husband John is Lifetime
Achievement in Education honoree Rosemary Connolly. Rosemary was the principal at St. Anastasia for 22 years and this year is retiring. Over her 46 year career in education, she’s made a difference in the lives of nearly 13,500 students.
WESTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL Westside Neighborhood School is excited to be part of the July 4th parade. WNS, a private independent school located adjacent to Playa Vista, has been educating students for over 30 years, drawing students from over 50 zip codes. The foundation of a WNS education is based on four pillars: Academic Excellence, Character, Diversity and Community. Participation in sports is a huge part of the school culture and the school is proud to represent the teams it fields in soccer, volleyball, flag football, basketball, softball, lacrosse and track. Go Jets! WESTCHESTER LUTHERAN CHURCH AND SCHOOL To keep up with a tradition of adding exciting detail and pride in our neighborhood parade float, Westchester Lutheran School is proud to present this float to represent the 2012 theme, “America’s Greatest Pastimes.” Since baseball is one of America’s favorite sports, the float is a salute to baseball, and to our Los Angeles Dodgers. We hope that this year will be a great year for baseball everywhere. We are all very proud of all of our Little League players in Westchester, and to the great families of Westchester that support their children’s activities. The cheer squad of Westchester Lutheran School is leading the way for the float along with the school mascot, Chester. CHAMBER PRESIDENT/CEO CHRISTINA DAVIS AND ELITE MOBILE CAR WASH Coming in as entry number 62 is President/ CEO Christina Davis throwing an LAX Coastal Area carwash party. Joining her today are the Chamber staff Judith Ciancimino, Rachel-Ann Levy and Chamberlain Duru, her fiance Cory Mellor, daughter Makayla and members of the Davis family. You can’t miss the bright orange van of Tony Padron owner of Elite Car Wash who specializes in mobile detailing at your home or business. Turn up that music, switch on those
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wipers, lather up those bubbles and prepare to get wet! WESTCHESTER SECONDARY CHARTER SCHOOL The newly approved Westchester Secondary Charter School celebrates America’s favorite pastime, READING! Whether cuddled up with a good book at the beach or in the backyard, reading is great summertime fun for all ages. Riding in this little book are beloved characters from all our favorite stories. Save the reading for later, driver Wendy Robinson! Westchester Charter, offering middle and high school, will open with grades 6-9 in fall 2013. Learn more about them and find summer reading lists at westchestercharter.org. MARIACHI MALIBU Mariachi Malibu is a premier Mariachi ensemble serving all of Southern California. The members of this group are professionally trained, experienced musicians and singers. They are true “caballeros!” Feliz cumpleanos America! CHARRO HORSES The Chamber is pleased to welcome the Charro International de Compton to today’s parade. A Charro (pronounced Cha ‘ro) is a skilled Mexican horseman whose origins date back to the 17th century. The charros are seen today in traditional costume and riding their famous dancing horses. Please join me in cheering on these beautiful dancing horses! TONY P’S DOCKSIDE GRILL Tony P’s Dockside Grill in Marina del Rey is not only one of the Marina’s hottest spots for casual dining, but is also proud to be a partner with our local schools. With a fantastic view of Marina del Rey, Tony P’s is the best place in town for everything from ribs and steaks to burgers and salads. On weekends, Tony P’s serves a great All-American breakfast starting at 9 a.m., and of course, Tony P’s Tavern is also the Westside’s No. 1 Sports Tavern, with more than 20 big screen high-definition televisions showing all the greatest sporting events. Tony P’s on Admiralty Way, make it your next stop for a great meal at a great price.
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July 2012 • Parade Program
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
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NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL OF WESTCHESTER / PLAYA Neighborhood Council Election Set for Oct. 28 The City of Los Angeles has selected Sunday, October 28, 2012, for the next Neighborhood Council of Westchester/ Playa election. Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Westchester Municipal Building Community Room. About half of the board seats will be on the ballot, and each �������������������������������������������������������������� your opportunity to get involved and help your community. Neighborhood Councils were created in the City of Los Angeles Charter as a way to encourage more involvement in City government and to make Los Angeles City government more responsive to local needs. The Neighborhood Council of ����������������������������������������������������������� give a larger voice to the residents, businesses and property owners in Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista. The NCWP is comprised of 31 board members who are �������������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������� meetings and actively participate on at least one of the NCWP committees. The board seats that are open for the 2012 election are: ����������������������������������������������������������� seats 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 ��������������������
Robert Mogck Named 2012 Star of the Neighborhood The Neighborhood Council of Westchester/ ����������������������������������������� resident Robert Mogck as the 2012 Star of the Neighborhood. The Star of the Neighborhood Award is sponsored by the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa, and its purpose is to identify and honor those unsung heroes ������������������������������������������� and without fanfare voluntarily perform good deeds that serve the needs of their neighbors and/or the community. Community members were invited to nominate a resident of Playa del Rey, Playa Vista or Westchester whose ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Council. As the winning honoree, Mogck will be honored at Westchester’s Annual Fourth of July Parade. �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� and medians. “He observed that our major thoroughfare streets were dirty, overgrown with weeds and in need of ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ ���������
������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������ ������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� Buchanan said that everyone who was nominated will be invited to a future Neighborhood Council meeting to ��������������
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www.ncwpdr.org July 2012 • Parade Program
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Page 21
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Marcom Masque awardees named at recent event Kentwood Players was founded in 1949 by Jan and Arky Marcom. At the end of each Kentwood Players season, all Kentwood Players members in good standing who have seen all six shows vote by secret ballot to determine the best of the season. The group presents its annual Marcom Masque Awards to the winners in each category at an entertainment-filled dinner ceremony. The first Marcom Masque Awards were presented for the 1957-1958 season with “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” winning the award for Best Play. For the 2011-2012 season, every cast member and technical designer for each show of the season (Squabbles, Bus Stop, Candide, Hollywood Arms, Rabbit Hole and Oliver!) was nominated for a Marcom Masque Award in appropriate categories. This year’s Marcom Masque Dinner
July 2012
and Awards Ceremony was held on Saturday, June 23. The following are the 2011-2012 Marcom Masque Award winners: Best Play, Oliver!; Director, Harold Dershimer for Oliver; Producer, Rocky and Victoria Miller for Oliver!; Actor in a Leading Role, Ben Lupejkis as Fagin in Oliver!; Actress in a Leading Role, Elizabeth A. Bouton as Nancy in Oliver!; Major Supporting Actor, Logan Gould as Artful Dodger in Oliver!; Major Supporting Actress, Patricia Butler as Widow Corney in Oliver!; Minor Supporting Actor, Kenny Allen as Jason in Rabbit Hole; Minor Supporting Actress, a tie between Valerie Ruel as Dixie in Hollywood Arms and Jennifer Richardson as Bet in Oliver!; Minor Role Actor, Shawn K. Summerer as Knife Grinder/Ensemble in Oliver!; Minor Role Actress, Deborah Ishida
as Mrs. Fisher in Squabbles and Candace Courtney as Rose Seller/Ensemble in Oliver!; Set Design, Michael Allen for Oliver!; Set Decoration Design, Jim Crawford for Rabbit Hole; Lighting Design, Robert Davis for Oliver!; Sound Design,Catherine Rahm for Candide; Original Graphic Design, Anita George for Candide; and Costume Design, Kathy Dershimer and Jayne Hamil for Candide.
Marcolm Masque Awardees. PHOTO BY CHRIS FARINA.
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 nonprofit 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. Elks Lodge Events for July The Westchester Elks Lodge will be holding the following events in July: On July 4 there will be a barbecue on the back patio following the Westchester Parade. There will be a live performance by “The New Directions Veterans Choir” who performed on America’s Got Talent. Doors open at 1 p.m. and the barbecue cost is $10. Also this month, there will be a Country and Western Dance on July 8 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. with adults costing $5 and minors $3. As always, every Sunday the Lodge hosts Bingo. Doors open at 1 p.m., early bird games start at 1:30 p.m. with regular Bingo beginning at 2 p.m. Refreshments offered for purchase. The Elks Lodge is located at 8025 W. Manchester Avenue in Playa del Rey. 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) 559-
July 2012
• your community newspaper • your community newspaper • your community newspaper • 2834. Cancer Benefit at T2 Tacos Please join the team who brought you Tompkins Square Bar & Grill in welcoming their new restaurant, T2 Tacos, to the neighborhood. On Wednesday, July 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. T2 Tacos will host its grand opening with an outdoor beer garden, music, food and fun. Proceeds from the day’s celebration will go toward the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. T2 Tacos is located at 7101 W. Manchester Ave. (corner of Loyola and Manchester). Please call (310) 670-TACO (6708226) for more info. Health and Wellness Event A.L.B.E. (Always Love Beyond Expectations) Productions Presents the Heal Thyself Alternative Health Workshop on Saturday, July 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Piccolo’s Books where all books are just $1.00. Piccolo’s Books is located in the Howard Hughes Promenade, located at 6080 Center Drive. #118 in Westchester. This health and wellness event will feature live food chef Keidi Awadu; a presentation by Karen L. Moore, a health and fitness specialist; author/ spoken word artist Tymeka Coney; and it the event will be hosted by LATalkLive.com’s “Destination Love”Margo Hudson. Tickets are $25. For more info, please visit http://www.meetup.com/ ALBEProductions. Kentwood Players Present “Doubt” Kentwood Players presents “DOUBT, A Parable” by John Patrick Shanley from July 13 to August 18, 2012 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester. The production is directed by Gail Bernardi and produced by Calia Mintzer-Wolf and Linda Reinhardt by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York. “DOUBT, A Parable” won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play. It tells the story of a nun in a Bronx Catholic School in 1964 who suspects a popular priest of inappropriate behavior with a student. Armed with nothing more than a resolute belief in her suspicions and a few circumstantial details, Sister Aloysius instigates a campaign to remove Father Flynn, the beloved and progressive parish priest, from St. Nicholas School. She enlists the help of Sister James, a young nun in the order, and the child’s tormented mother, Mrs. Muller. To purchase tickets by phone, please call (310) 645-5156 during box office hours, Tuesday through Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. or visit kentwoodplayers. org. Music West Performs “Annie”
Music West, Inc. proudly presents the hit musical “Annie”, from July 13 through 21 at The Westchester Townhouse. Performances are Friday, July 13 at 7 p.m., Saturday, July 14 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. , Friday, July 20 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, July 21 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Westchester Townhouse is located at 8501 Emerson Avenue in Westchester. A delightfully optimistic musical for the entire family, “Annie” stars a local cast of more than 35 wonderfully talented children and adults, amazing sets and a live music ensemble provided by MK Music Services. Featuring unforgettable numbers such as “It’s the Hard Knock Life”, “N.Y.C.”, and “Tomorrow”, the show is enjoyable for audiences of all ages! Presale tickets are available online at www.musicwest.org for $12 each if purchased by July 6. Starting July 7, all tickets will be $15. each. If available, tickets can be purchased at the theater box office 1 hour before curtain for each performance. Annie is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. For more information, please call (310) 692-0006. Movies and Music in the Park at Playa Vista Once again, Playa Vista and Time Warner Cable have partnered to sponsor “Movies in the Moonlight” taking place Fridays from 8-10 p.m. at the Central Park Bandshell in Playa Vista. These free events are a great kick-off to summer. A shuttle service will run from “The Shops at Concert Park” to Central Park at 7 p.m., 7:15 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Dropoffs after the movie will occur at 10 p.m. Pack some snacks, grab your beach towels or blanket and head on down to the park with your friends and family. No dogs please! For more info, please call (310) 448-4630. Movie Events in July: July 13: Ghostbusters July 27: Happy Feet 2 Concerts will also take place twice a month during the summer season. Events take place on Sundays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Shuttles at the Shops at Concert Park will be running from 4 to 5 p.m. every fifteen minutes and the drop-off back to your car is at 6:45 p.m. Music Events for July: July 15: DSB - America’s Favorite Tribute to Journey July 29: Pine Mountain Logs LAPD Rollin’ South Traffic Style Car Show and Traffic Safety Fair On Saturday, July 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the LAPD will hold a Car Show and Traffic Safety Fair at the LAPD Ahmanson Recruit Training Center, located at 5651 W. Manchester Blvd. in Westchester. The event will feature more than 300 cars and motorcycles that will be judged in such categories as “Best in
Show” and the “Captain’s Award.” The event will also feature gourmet food trucks, music, raffles prizes and fun for the whole family. The event is hosted by the South Traffic Advisory Council and proceeds will benefit traffic safety education in schools and throughout the community and city of Los Angeles. For more information on registering your vehicle for the event, please visit www.stac-std.com. Westchester Begonia Society Show and Sale The Westchester Branch of the American Begonia Society is proud to present its 53rd Annual Begonia Show and Sale this summer on Saturday, July 14. The exciting Westchester event is the only judged show in California and will not only showcase begonias but ferns, ivies, bromeliads, orchids, aroids and other shade loving plants. An excellent selection of rare and beautiful begonias– species and hybrids–and other plants and gifts will be available for purchase. Admission is free, and free parking is widely available. The show will take place on Saturday, July 14 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, located at 6323 W. 80th Street in Westchester. For more information, please call Martin E. Delgado, Show Chairman, at (562) 310-8380. Food Truck Friday Nights For the second year in a row, Visitation School is the place to be for families for its Food Truck Friday Nights. This month’s event will take place on Friday, July 20 from 5 to 10 p.m. and will feature rising star “boy band” IM5. The band is scheduled to play at 8:30 p.m. and following the IM5 performance, the band will be available to meet fans, pose for photos and sign autographs. The school is located at 8740 Emerson Ave in Westchester. For more info, please visit visitationschool.org or call Terry O’Connor at (310) 994-9904.
How to submit a listing for the To Do/Calendar section 1. Write-up your event in paragraph format (no abbreviations please!) 2. Submissions must be received by the 22nd of the month to be considered 3. Please include contact information and the cost for your event, if there is one 4. Email us the event * Due to the volume of submissions received, we can not include all events or respond to requests of event inclusion. Events should be $25 or under to be considered for inclusion.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News
Random Notes/Opinion
Page 23 • your community newspaper •
Volunteering makes you happy By Nora Lee Owens How often when pressed to contribute to charities do we throw the letter away or put it aside in a “to-do” file for action later? What about when you do give money to an organization you think you love but as you do so you think, “I wonder if there is somewhere I could go to be part of the action, instead of just giving my money.” Now there’s good news for all of us, and it’s called Westchester Playa Village. The logo says “Neighbors Helping Neighbors,” and that’s just what it’s about. The purpose of the organization is to have volunteers available to help people in our area who are age
55+ and needing either temporary or continuing assistance doing everyday tasks. When faced with the choice of staying at home or assisted living, no matter how fabulous the place, most people choose to stay among the things they love. But doing so may create personal challenges. So now’s the chance for you macho types who like to tinker to actually fix things for someone who will really appreciate it, unlike your wife who would prefer to call a carpenter. Or maybe you are good at computers and would be available to help a member set up their laptop or figure out their new Kindle. There are all kinds of opportunities to help, from grocery shopping to dog-walking, and if you aren’t a people person,
you can volunteer your services in the office answering phones, making appointments or doing other clerical duties. You might also want to read to someone whose sight is impaired but who loves books, or maybe you could just join someone for a good oldfashioned knitting circle – well, maybe not a circle, but perhaps an arc. Whatever you volunteer to do, you will probably find it more rewarding than the recipient does. Remember that old adage “giving is better than receiving” (I’m still waiting for someone to feel really good about giving me an emerald ring, for which I will be very grateful and promise to be very, very good). Westchester Playa Village is part of The Village Movement, which
nationwide consists of 89 villages providing benefits to over 10,000 Americans. At a time when we are becoming more and more polarized and hurling obscenities at each other in public places, here is an opportunity to perform a needed service to a total stranger. Who knows, that stranger may become a close friend and may perform an act of kindness for you at a later date when you, too, are in need. One of the certainties of life is that it is full of surprises, and not all of them involve brightly-wrapped gifts. For more information, if you need assistance, or are looking to volunteer, you are invited to visit the website at www.thewpv.org or call Carol Kitabayashi at (310) 695-7030.
Gaining Independence from what is bothering you By Fay Craton Walking on the breakwaters in Playa del Rey is an opportunity for me to breathe in the salty air and release tension. It is enjoyable to see waves lap against the barrier created by the rocks and cement. In addition to a place to walk, the site creates other enjoyments such as watching birds making their homes in the rocks, opportunity for bike riding, and for those who enjoy fishing, it provides a place to cast a line. A barrier can be a base for rich possibility or can be something blocking you from what you want. It may be easy to view a barrier as a hindrance. What is blocking you may appear to be very real and causing you great pain. Sometimes it may be very difficult to see around the “stuff” life places into your path. A barrier can constrict your ability to have successful relationships or possibly will keep you from activities in which you long to participate. The road to independence from being hindered by a barrier is within you. Your thoughts, perceptions and beliefs show up in your life as your actions and attitude. A good example of how attitude can shift an obstruction is the life of baseball pitcher Jim Abbott. After winning an Olympic gold medal, Jim played for the California Angels, the New York Yankees, the Chicago White Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers. While on the teams he received several awards and pitched a no-hitter game. He managed to achieve a career as a professional ball player even though he has a significant barrier – he has only one hand! He learned his disability is only limiting if he allowed it to stop him. Even after he stopped playing ball, he continued to succeed in life working on initiatives encouraging businesses to hire people with disabilities, as a motivational speaker and he co-wrote a book titled “Imperfect: An Improbable Life” (published this year). The “stuff”
July 2012
in your path can look as impenetrable as stone and concrete, or as limiting as a missing hand. So what do you do to gain independence from a block? The very first step is to be willing to look at the situation from a different perspective. Perhaps instead of seeking the block as a negative, you can find some benefits to the barrier. When you are locked into a belief that something can only be one way, you limit your choices and ways for your strengths to demonstrate. Learning to view from different perspectives can take some time. Be patient with yourself. You may need to seek out assistance to help you see the situation from a new angle. Sometimes a new skill needs to be learned. This will take practice to slowly develop increased competence to have the ability to move past the hindrance. As you build your confidence to overcome a barrier there could be people around you saying you cannot succeed. Certainly, Jim Abbott had people telling him that a one-handed pitcher cannot excel at playing baseball. When discouraged, it is important to stop the corresponding “mind chatter:” discouraging comments created within your thoughts. When this happens, the first step is to stop and take a deep breath. Reflect on what was said. Is it true? Do you have strengths not recognized in the discouraging statements making it not true? When working toward overcoming a barrier it is important to know your strengths. Who are you? The “I am that you are” has many strengths. Sometimes people do not see their own strengths or have even been taught to deny them. Trust in the wisdom saying you can accomplish what you set out to achieve. What is a barricade for one person can offer rich potential for another person. When we are willing to shift our perspective to see more than
one possibility, we gain tremendous independence from surrounding conditions. My wish for you is for you to know the “I am that you are.” As you grow into this understanding it is important to trust in yourself. If you need help in seeing additional possibilities, reach out to people you trust for help.
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. If you have any questions, please visit Fay’s website at: www. communicationtriangle.com or contact her at (310) 645-6762.
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Summer Events
People wait for their food at Visitation’s last Food Truck Friday Nights.
Must Try: Gourmet Food Trucks If you haven’t had a chance to attend one of the community’s numerous “gourmet food truck” festivals, the summer is the perfect time to stand in line with your neighbors and chow down on some of the best food on four wheels in town! Every Tuesday, Gateway to LA hosts
“Gateway to Go!,” in the parking lot of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, located at 5985 W. Century Blvd. (access and parking is available on 98th Street) in Westchester. Attendees can buy lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. from numerous food trucks and eat at the tables provided while listening to music.
For more information, please visit gatewaytola. org. The first Friday of the month, the 87th Street Merchants group hosts “First Fridays,” meant to draw crowds to the Westchester Triangle for food and an “open house” type atmosphere for the businesses that line 87th Street. IM5 is scheduled to perform at 8:30 p.m. and is sure to be a hit with the “tween” Attendees can crowd. PHOTO PROVIDED BY IM5band.com. enjoy the chance IM5 performance, the band will be to stroll down the closed street while available to meet fans, pose for photos snacking on tacos, sliders and other and sign autographs. street food fare, all while mingling Kids can also enjoy the Viz Roller with local retailers and neighbors. This Skating Rink, face painting and a month’s First Friday takes place on screening of The Little Mermaid II, Friday, July 6 from 4 to 9 p.m. while parents enjoy drinks in the Beer For the second year in a row, Garden and the tunes of the Pure Play Visitation School is the place to be Band. for families for its Food Truck Friday The school is located at 8740 Nights. This month’s event will take Emerson Ave in Westchester. For more place on Friday, July 20 from 5 to 10 info, please visit visitationschool.org p.m. and will feature rising star “boy or call Terry O’Connor at (310) 994band” IM5. The band is scheduled to 9904. play at 8:30 p.m. and following the
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Must Listen: Marina del Rey Summer Concert Series Enjoy the beautiful summer weather by taking in a concert at Burton Chace Park for the 2012 Marina del Rey Summer Concert Series. Attendees can enjoy “Symphonic Thursdays” performed by the 75member Marina del Rey Summer Symphony led by Music Director and Conductor, Frank Fetta or if you enjoy more contemporary music, “Pop Saturdays” may make the perfect time to head down to the Marina. These free concerts are held on the waterfront. Concerts start at 7 p.m. and generally last two hours. Audience members may bring low-beach chairs or blankets and seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The park is located at 13650 Mindanao way in Marina Del Rey. In support of the four Thursday evening classical concerts, the Marina del Rey Summer WaterBus operates from 5 p.m. – Midnight those evenings. It will also be operating as scheduled (11 a.m. – Midnight), for each Saturday performance. Also supporting the Thursday evening classical concerts, the Marina del Rey Summer Weekend Beach Shuttle will operate from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. those evenings. It will operate as scheduled (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.), for each Saturday performance. Performances include: Classical Concert Dates Thursday, July 12 - A Night at the Opera Thursday, July 26 - Rich Capparela, narrator in Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestraa Thursday, August 9 - Christina and Michelle Naughton, piano Thursday, August 23 - Lindsay Deutsch, violin Pop Concert Dates Saturday, July 21 - Co-Headline, Shelby Lynne & Lisa Loeb Saturday, August 4 - Arturo Sandoval Saturday, August 18 - Ambrosia Saturday, September 1 - Evelyn “Champagne” King For more info, please visit beaches.lacounty.gov.
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Real Estate
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Wishing You a Happy and Safe Fourth of July! God Bless America!
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News