Westchester/Playa Hometown News July 2023

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Star Wars super fans share the force and the Fourth along the parade route

By Shanee Edwards

Calling all Jedis in training! If you want to experience the power of the Force this Independence Day, there’s no need to travel to a galaxy far, far away. Just head to the LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce’s Fourth of July Parade where numerous costumed characters and cars will again descend upon Loyola Boulevard to share some “Star Wars” magic. In a show of strength, a battalion of Stormtroopers from the 501st Legion will brave the heat to step in unison to “The Imperial March” making spectators cheer at the sight.

If you haven’t been to the parade before, the 501st Legion, the Sunrider Base of the Rebel Legion, the Mandalorian Mercs and Road Squadron, are parade favorites and dress in perfectly detailed costumes as they bring the movies to life. Whether you grew up with Luke and Leia, or Grogu is more your jam, their entry is definitely one of the highlights of the event. I spoke with some of the organization’s members to find out more about this committed group of fans who put serving the community at the top of their droid’s to-do list.

Organizing the 501st Legion’s participation in this year’s parade is William Glasgow–a stealthy process server by day, First Order Stormtrooper the rest of the time. When I asked if he ever wore his costume while delivering a court summons, he said, “No, I think they’d see me coming.” Excellent point, considering Stormtroopers are known for making a scene.

Growing up in Westchester, William was obsessed with Star Wars as a kid, even going to the opening of the first

film in 1977 when he was just seven years old. Now, it’s just part of his identity.

“It’s pretty awesome to be the liveaction version of something you see on screen that you also grew up with,” he says.

But being part of the 501st Legion is about more than just nerding-out as your favorite Star Wars character–it’s serious business.

To start with, costumes must be screen-accurate and approved by a local garrison. The perfect costume can take months to acquire and build and cost upwards of $700–usually closer to $1,000. There is also a detailed code of conduct members must follow as they commit to a mission of bringing good to their community through volunteer charity work. Participation in the 501st Legion is a labor of love, but it brings big rewards.

William says that in the six years he’s been part of the 501st, he’s made multiple visits to children’s hospitals.

On these visits, he prefers to wear a costume with a helmet.

“Every time that I’ve gone to a hospital, I’ve probably cried inside my helmet because we see the kids hooked up to their machines and on dialysis and things like that. How’s it not going to jerk at your heartstrings?” he says.

Though these experiences can be emotional, it means the world to him to bring a smile to children’s faces.

Phillip Loicano, who’s been part of the 501st Legion since 2015, was also surprised by how affected he was visiting the hospitals. He says he’s been a lifelong Star Wars fan and it was his mother who first introduced him to the movies.

“It was a big part of my youth,” says Phillip. “My mom and I would do Friday movie nights. We’d hit the video store, rent all three movies, order pizza and have a marathon. I grew up playing with Star Wars toys and it’s just something that’s been really influential in my life.”

When he became an adult and found

out that people make a philanthropic hobby of dressing up as characters like Stormtroopers or Sith Lords, he was eager to join the 501st Legion.

“It’s helped shape who I am,” says Phillip.

His preferred costume is that of a Biker Scout.

“They’re from ‘Return of the Jedi.’ They’re the guys that ride the speeder bikes through the trees,” he says.

Dressed as a Biker Scout and visiting Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in Pasadena, Phillip says he had a lifechanging experience.

“There was a small boy. He must have been about five and for some reason, he really took to me and just wanted to keep coming up and getting hugs. Just seeing the awe in this kid’s eyes–behind my helmet, I was crying,” says Phillip, who then realized his deeper purpose.

“That was the moment that things really turned for me and made me realize we can do some good. We can be out there doing things for others instead of just for ourselves. And that was a really good moment for me,” he says.

There is one member of the Star Wars groups that participates in the parade that you’ve likely seen around town, who’s taken Star Wars to the next level. Road Squadron leader, Shawn Crosby, aka Obi-Shawn (as it reads on his tricked-out car’s vanity plate), has turned Star Wars into a lifestyle. You’ve probably seen him driving around his home base of Westchester in his Hyundai Genesis that’s been modified to look like a Starfighter plane he calls a G-Wing. Or maybe you’ve even listened to his internet radio shows “Good Morning, (continued on next page)

Photo by Zsuzsi Steiner

Top: Members of the 501st Legion march in last year’s parade. Below: Obi-Shawn poses with his Road Squadron vehicle and the lovable droid R2-D2.

Photo by Robert Higgins

Star Wars (cont’d)

(continued from previous page) Tatooine” or the Docking Bay 94 (a reference to Han Solo), about all things Star Wars. Like his fellow Star Wars fans, his love for the sci-fi space saga started as a kid.

When the first movie came out, Shawn says he made a deal with the movie theater: he would help clean up the theater if they let him watch for free. He spent the entire summer watching the movie over and over.

“It went from, ‘Wow, this is so cool!’ to, ‘Wow, look at how they did the special effects,’ and ‘Oh, I see how they edited that scene.’ So, it was really dramatic, and it became a film school course for me at the age of 10. I ended up working in special effects because of it,” Shawn says.

Shawn’s had many transformative experiences visiting kids who are cancer survivors. At one event, he was dressed as Obi-Wan Kenobi and taught the children lightsaber training using lightsabers made from squishy pool noodles so no one would get injured.

“As the kids were pummeling me with their lightsabers, this one boy jumps into the fray and he grabs a purple lightsaber,” says Shawn.

The boy was missing one arm due to cancer. Shawn explained to him

that they were engaging in training, not actual battle, but the boy seemed intent on a real fight.

Shawn then said, in his best ObiWan voice, “Well, obviously you have been in a number of lightsaber battles before and you’ve come out victorious. You must be a great warrior!”

He pointed at the boy’s missing arm. The boy looked at his arm, then back at Shawn. A huge smile came onto his face.

“All of a sudden, the boy’s gone from wanting to attack me to being my best friend,” he says.

A few minutes later, when Shawn was being bombarded by the other kids and their lightsabers, he heard the same kid cry out, “I’ll save you, Obi-Wan!”

Because of Shawn’s quick thinking, the boy went from wanting to play the villain to playing the hero. [Now I’m crying under my helmet.]

If you want to experience some of the Star Wars magic for yourself but don’t have the time to make your own costume or have extra Galactic Credits to soup up your car, you’ll have the chance to wave to some of your favorite characters on parade day.

Learn more at 501st.com.

SERVE. LEAD. SUCCEED

Business & Nonpro t News

Marina del Rey readies for firework display.

After the Fourth of July Parade, round out your Independence day festivities by enjoying a spectacular 20-minute fireworks show over the Marina, starting at 9 p.m.

Synchronized music will be played at Burton Chace Park (13650 Mindanao Way) and Fisherman’s Village (13755 Fiji Way). Depending on the weather, the fireworks are also visible throughout Marina del Rey, Playa Vista and Dockweiler Beach.

Visit beaches.lacounty.gov for more info and to view a list of street closures that begin as early as 1 p.m. on July 4.

Go summer with LMU.

LMU’s popular Shakespeare on the Bluff series will be performing one of the bard’s most popular and oft-quoted plays “Macbeth,” on July 20, 21 and 22 at 8 p.m. This classic Shakespeare tragedy tells the tale of “Macbeth and his wife [who] plot to become rulers of Scotland, but their reign falls apart into violence, paranoia and betrayal.”

All performances are 90-minutes long and are held at LMU’s Drollinger Family Stage. The show is directed by Jo Ann Mendelson.

The university is also hosting two family-friendly movie nights this month. First up is “Coco” on July 7 and “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” on July 28.

Shakespeare on the Bluff and outdoor movies are held at LMU’s Drollinger Family Stage and start when the sun sets around 8 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. and picnics are welcome.

Learn more and RSVP at community. lmu.edu/summer.

Enjoy movies under the stars in Marina del Rey.

The Department of Beaches and Harbors has a great summer schedule of movies planned.

Enjoy outdoor family-friendly films on Fridays at 8 p.m. this summer during “Beach Movie Nights” at the Dockweiler Youth Center, located at 12505 Vista del Mar in Playa del Rey.

The 2023 Beach Movie Nights schedule is:

July 7-Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

July 14-Minions: Rise of Gru

July 21-Finding Nemo

July 28-Vivo

August 4-The Little Rascals

August 11-Toy Story 4

August 18-Jumanji

August 25-Luca

September 1-The Lion King

September 8-Free Willy

September 15-Coco

September 22-The Super Mario Bros. Movie

September 29-Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

On select Saturdays at 8 p.m., check out “Marina Movie Nights” at Burton Chace Park (13650 Mindanao Way in Marina del Rey) for a mix of PG-13 classics and recent blockbusters.

The 2023 Marina Movie Nights schedule is:

July 8-The Wedding Singer

July 29-Jaws

August 12-Grease

August 26-Beverly Hills Cop

September 2-Thor: Love and Thunder

September 9-Love and Basketball

September 16-Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark

September 23-Top Gun: Maverick

September 30-Creature from the Black Lagoon

All showings are free, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Don’t forget to bring your low-back chairs, blankets and snacks! Parking is available onsite for a fee.

Visit beaches.lacounty.gov for more info.

Emerson Ave. Community Garden invites neighborhood to tomato fest.

The Emerson Avenue Community Garden will host its Sixth Annual Tomato Tasting Contest on July 22 from 10 a.m. to noon. The community is invited to stop by the garden for the festivities and try a dozen or so tomatoes grown by garden club plotholders. Attendees will have the chance to vote for their favorite varieties in the categories of sweetest, sourest, biggest, smallest, prettiest, ugliest and juiciest.

The event is presented by Master Gardener and plot holder, Dana Morgan.

The garden, which is a community green space as well as a location for 38 individual plots, is located at 6550 W. 80th St. in Westchester. Learn more at eacgc.org.

Woman’s Club awards 20 scholarships to deserving seniors.

The Woman’s Club of Playa del Rey ended its club year by giving out $30,000 in scholarships to graduating high school seniors. Thanks to the (continued on next page)

Senior luncheon. On Wednesday, June 7 the Westchester Senior Center was filled with members and friends for a Spring into Summer luncheon hosted by the Westchester Rotary Club. More than 100 attendees enjoyed a delicious lunch from Benny’s Tacos, musical entertainment from local jazz pianist Stellan Swanlund and mystery gift cards donated by The Book Jewel. Membership to the center and access to all of its events and activities is available to those 50-plus who pay a $10 annual fee. Next up for the center is a beach party-themed event on August 12. Learn more by calling the Senior Center at (310) 649-3319.

Photos by Zsuzsi

Head to the Emerson Avenue Community Garden for its Sixth Annual Tomato Tasting on July 22 to help select this year’s award-winning fruits.

Photo by Julie Arutunian

(continued from previous page) generosity of its members, sponsors and community support, the club was able to more than triple what they awarded during last year’s scholarship luncheon to students from Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets, St. Bernard High School, Venice High School, Notre Dame Academy, St. Mary’s Academy and Inglewood High School.

The club was looking for students with at least a 2.75 GPA and who are planning to attend technical school, community college or a four-year university. Students were required to submit essays and demonstrate financial need.

“One of our greatest joys is the scholarships we award each year. We had the honor of presenting scholarships to 20 amazing female high school seniors,” said club president Julie Lansing. “It’s inspiring to hear how our scholarship will help them achieve their dreams. Education and scholarships for local students are one of our main philanthropies. Our members value education and work hard throughout the year to raise the funds and support students with big dreams and a vision for their

future.”

Sponsors who supported the scholarships include Martin Family Restaurants, Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation, the Stephanie Younger Group, Enhanced Cellular Design, Peter Kohly | Farmers Insurance, Cozette Vergari, Dr. Jan Sison, Pacific Aviation, Dr. Heidi Guiyab | Provistar, Pat Araujo | Palm Realty, Matilla Group and Hollyway Cleaners.

Save the date for National Night Out.

National Night Out is coming to Westchester Park on Tuesday, August 1 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, is a communitybuilding day for people to meet first responders and safety providers. The event is also a chance to build police and neighborhood partnerships. Expect vendor booths with giveaways, food and fun at the event. The event will be held at the Westchester Senior Center, located at 8740 Lincoln Blvd. in Westchester. Have info to share about your business or nonprofit? Email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com.

DE CR ON PROPER TIE S

Contact us today to schedule a tour at our fantastic apartment communities: Playa del Oro, Playa Pacifica and Playa Marina!

Contact us today to schedule a tour at our fantastic apartment communities: Playa del Oro, Playa Pacifica and Playa Marina!

Contact us today to schedule a tour at our fantastic apartment communities: Playa del Oro, Playa Pacifica and Playa Marina!

Contact us today to schedule a tour at our fantastic apartment communities: Playa del Oro, Playa Pacifica and Playa Marina!

Contact us today to schedule a tour at our fantastic apartment communities: Playa del Oro, Playa Pacifica and Playa Marina!

Visit our website to view our Career Opportunities and join our dynamic team!

Visit our website to view our Career Opportunities and join our dynamic team!

Contact us today to schedule a tour at our fantastic apartment communities: Playa del Oro, Playa Pacifica and Playa Marina!

Visit our website to view our Career Opportunities and join our dynamic team!

Contact us today to schedule a tour at our fantastic apartment communities: Playa del Oro, Playa Pacifica and Playa Marina!

Visit our website to view our Career

Contact us today to schedule a tour at our fantastic apartment communities: Playa del Oro, Playa Pacifica and Playa Marina!

Visit our website to view our Career Opportunities and join our dynamic team!

Visit our website to view our Career Opportunities and join our dynamic team!

Visit our website to view our Career Opportunities and join our dynamic team! DE CR ON.COM

and join our dynamic team! DE CR ON PROPER TIE S

Contact us today to schedule a tour at our fantastic apartment communities: Playa del Oro, Playa Pacifica and Playa Marina! Visit our website to view our Career Opportunities and join our dynamic team!

Visit our website to view our Career Opportunities and join our dynamic team!

Contact us today to schedule a tour at our fantastic apartment communities: Playa del Oro, Playa Pacifica and Playa Marina!

Opportunities and join our dynamic team!

Visit our website to view our Career Opportunities and join our dynamic team! DE CR ON.COM

Members of the Woman’s Club of Playa del Rey, including President Julie Lansing (far left) and Hilda Higgins (far right) pose with scholarship recipients who received $1,500 each from the club. A portion of the scholarship money was raised through hosting community events including the Holiday Boutique, chaired by Rosalie Schultz and the rummage sale, chaired by Jan Yoss. Hilda Higgins served as this year’s Scholarship Committee Chair.

Photo by Robert Higgins

Spotlight on Playa Vista

Free Market_Playa Vista

“Free Market Playa Vista is an ever-evolving collective that develops and markets curated products, services, and experiences by combining incubator strategy with artistic understanding and infrastructure strength.” Located in Playa Visa as part of RUNWAY, Free Market has ingrained itself as an attraction for greater Los Angeles with its collection of offerings ranging from restaurant favorites - Joliet & Loqui - to Health & Beauty options like HEYDAY. And don’t forget your summer stop in to visit Jeni’s Ice Cream!

Kris Zacuto

DRE 01972897

12765 Bluff Ck #2 Sold $2,700,000

5 QUESTIONS WITH... ROBIN ZACHA

Playa del Rey’s Tori Hettinger has made a name for herself in the local community thanks to her volunteerism, but these days, it’s also her design skills for transforming local spaces that are getting people talking.

Born in raised in El Segundo, Tori always had an eye for art and design. Getting inspiration from home makeover shows on TLC and HGTV like Trading Spaces, she would decorate and rearrange her room several times a year while growing up. With help from her family, she also learned early on how to paint, as well as basic handy skills, to make her design visions–which often feature dramatic color and good lighting–come to life.

After graduating from UCLA with a major in art history, Tori decided to pursue a career path following one of her other passions: nonprofit work. For the last 17 years, she has worked in Westchester as Rotary District 5280’s Office Manager, where she serves as a resource and liaison for the district’s more than 60 clubs that span throughout the Los Angeles area. She is also responsible for planning the district’s annual humanitarian trip, which sends more than 100 Rotarians to partner with local organizations in Central and South America for a week of service projects.

Looking to hone her creative skills, Tori eventually headed back to UCLA to take classes in interior design. There, she thrived as a member of the Interior Design Club and helped with several charity makeovers, to bring her love for

2 3 4 5

volunteering and beautifying spaces together. The experience also helped cement Tori’s philosophy of making sure pro bono projects are part of her business plan.

While Tori has helped revamp client’s homes and spaces for the LMU’s Entrepreneurship Program, the Westchester Townhouse and the Westchester Family YMCA’s recently launched Teen Center, perhaps the project she’s most proud of to date is her work leading the makeover of St. Margaret’s Center in Lennox. For the last six months, she (and a team of dedicated volunteers from the Westchester Rotary Club), have transformed the drab communal and office areas at the nonprofit into beautiful and welcoming spaces for the staff and the more than 10,000 people a year who come to the center for assistance. On July 22, the Westchester Rotary Club and St. Margaret’s will host a reveal party to celebrate the culmination of the project.

“Everyone is loving the makeover, which is really rewarding,” said Tori who calls her aesthetic eclectic with modern clean lines.

“It’s amazing how you can transform a space pretty easily with better placement of furniture and lighting. Our goal with the whole facility was to make it more usable and for them to be able to expand their services and hire more staff in the coming years. We are making that possible for them.”

We recently sat down with Tori and asked her to share her thoughts, so here is “5 Questions With...Tori!”

If you’re looking for the perfect evening out, where are you going?

Bacari PDR, no questions asked! We’ve been there so many times we don’t even need menus anymore! Bacari is the perfect spot for great cocktails, the best small plates, and the place where my friends and I have celebrated everything from new jobs to engagements. Order the “Smokey & the Bandit” cocktail with a side of brussels sprouts–you won’t regret it!

What is one local spot you couldn’t live without?

The Book Jewel is such a gem–no pun intended! It’s my favorite independent bookstore, both in the interior design and the selection of books. I really appreciate that The Book Jewel highlights books that champion social justice issues, welcomes the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, and hosts many events that bring the neighborhood together. The staff are happy to order any book that isn’t in stock, too, so I can always keep my support local. Even when I don’t need a book, I love to visit The Book Jewel to say “hi” to Paiges, the bookstore cat.

What do you tell people that are new to the area about Westchester/ Playa?

Get involved! There are so many circles that overlap in our community–from the Rotary Club to Emerson Avenue Community Garden to the YMCA–you can find your niche. It’s amazing that in a city as large as Los Angeles, our neighborhoods are so close-knit.

What is the most rewarding thing about volunteering with community groups?

Change begins at the community level, and it’s so rewarding to see how a few hours of volunteering can start a movement. I’ve had the privilege to prep Sunday dinner with Grass Roots Neighbors this year. People from across Westchester meet at Holy Nativity Church on Emerson Avenue and chop fruits and veggies for a hot meal for 100 of our unhoused neighbors. I see those same volunteers at the YMCA, at WAM, the Rotary Club of Westchester and the 4th of July Parade. This type of community fulfills me in a way that nothing else can.

Is there any business or organization you’d like to give a shout-out to?

Westchester Pharmacy is the most important business in the community! It’s a local, woman-owned pharmacy that provides the best service to its patients. Pharmacist and owner Erin Cueto provided critical services during the pandemic, including free vaccine clinics, donations of PPE, and making sure homebound seniors received the medication and care they needed. If you haven’t already, switch over to Westchester Pharmacy; you’ll receive amazing service and will be supporting a local business!

Cool Fact Cool Fact

Tori loves to bake and has entered the KCRW PieFest contest for several years. She’s still hoping for a first place ribbon!

Tori and her partner, Zack, have transformed their balcony into a garden with more than 100 plants, including vegetables and herbs.

Tori Hettinger

I LOVE THAT THE PLAYA DEL REY COMMUNITY IS REALLY TIGHT-KNIT AND HAS SO MANY LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES. WHEN I’M OUT, I ALWAYS SEE SOMEONE I KNOW. “

The history of the parade starts more than 23 years ago. Westchester had already begun to celebrate the millennium, thanks to a series of events called “The Gathering” hosted by the Westchester/Playa del Rey Historical Society, but something larger was needed to commemorate such a momentous occasion. Historical Society President and longtime Westchester resident, Mary Lou Crockett, spearheaded the idea of a Westchester parade. Needing a community partner to help bring this idea to life, the LAX Coastal Chamber jumped on board to help.

Then chamber president, Gwen Vuchsas, worked with the inaugural parade committee to rally participants, volunteers, and sponsors that first year to celebrate America’s birthday under the theme, “A Community with a Kindred Spirit.” The committee worked tirelessly to produce an event worthy of this amazing community; they ensured streets were closed, signage was placed, announcer booths were set up, golf carts were rented, posters were printed, and more. On the morning of July 4th, each committee member was nervous, wondering if anyone would show up to what they believed to be Westchester’s

first—and only—community parade. When thousands appeared, it was clear this was more than just a celebration of the year 2000; it was the start of a brand new tradition.

Every year, the event shows the strength of our community and demonstrates that the LAX Coastal area is unlike any other neighborhood in Los Angeles. Westchester is truly a small town in a big city!

The chamber loves celebrating America’s birthday, and we look forward to seeing you all along the parade route!

You find local Chambers of Commerce in towns and cities across America—some are big, some are small, and some downtown chambers are huge. Most of these organizations focus on promoting the business interests of their members, as well as their own growth and priorities.

The LAX Coastal Chamber, however, has always had another special “lens” in which it sees its work in the community. While we look at issues from the standpoint of, “Is this good for business?”, we also analyze how issues impact how our neighbors live, work and play in our community. Our annual Fourth of July Parade is just one of the many events and programs that we host each year to enhance the vitality of our community. Besides the parade, the chamber is a champion of education and brings the principals and lead educators from our K-12 schools together at our

monthly Education Committee. Each May, we present the Teacher Eddy Awards to recognize the top educators in our local community. This year marked the event’s 40th anniversary! In February, we partnered with our members to say “thank you” to local heroes during “Protectors’ Week.” With the support of our sponsors, we were able to drop o goodie baskets, serve meals and share handmade cards with area firefighters, police o cers and healthcare workers. Our Network for Change group regularly meets to volunteer at community events like the Rock Roll & Run and hosts a holiday donation drive.

This past year, our organization celebrated 70 years of furthering its mission of promoting business and enhancing the vitality of our community. The chamber is committed to being a diverse and inclusive organization and instilling our core

values—Trust & Respect, Welcoming, Supporting, Collaborative and Continuous Learning—to develop a culture that businesses want to be a part of. We’ve also created innovative o erings that have helped meet the needs of small businesses. Our small business certification program, unique networking experiences like Coastal Connections and Binge Networking and our workshops have been a catalyst for positive business growth.

Join us and our more than 625 members in strengthening our local business community and building connections! If you’re a business leader interested in learning how you can get involved with our organization, please call our Director of Business Relations Mary-Catherine Micka at (310) 645-5151.

In June, the chamber installed its new board of directors, as well as its new Board Chair. The chamber is thrilled to have Ravi Singh, a dynamic, energetic and enthusiastic leader, at its helm to help continue moving our organization forward.

Ravi is the Vice President of Growth & Development for PBS Engineers, a small and local business with an o ce in Westchester. Ravi has 20 years of professional experience in the aviation industry working with clients across the U.S. in the state, local, commercial and federal markets on critical infrastructure projects. Along with being a devoted husband and father, Ravi dedicates his time connecting people and businesses across our community and following his passion for volunteering for organizations focused on community impact, including AMCS’ Spring into Well-Being Celebration. Ravi also co-hosts the No U-Turn podcast, which spotlights leaders focused on the future of

the aviation and transportation industry, emerging technologies and the workforce of the future.

Joining Ravi’s volunteer leadership team as the chamber’s Honorary Mayor, is someone that is very familiar with the organization! Ravi has selected Christina Davis for this year’s celebratory role, which includes leading ribbon cuttings for new businesses and being a community ambassador for the 70-year-old organization. Christina is the Executive Director of the Gateway to Los Angeles Business Improvement District (BID), which includes more than 45 properties adjacent to LAX where property owners tax themselves to make the area cleaner, safer and more vibrant for its neighbors and visitors from around the world. Prior to her role at Gateway, Christina led the LAX Coastal Chamber as its President/CEO for 17 years. A true hometown girl, Christina grew up in Westchester and is a graduate of

Westchester High School. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering with groups like the Westchester Rotary and the LAX Coastal Education Foundation, roller skating and spending time with her daughter. Both Ravi and Christina know that through the strength of collaboration, partnerships and innovation our chamber will continue to thrive, and they’re committed to leading the way for our community.

-Chad Maender, LAX Coastal Chamber President/CEO

LAX COASTAL CHAMBER – MORE THAN JUST A BUSINESS ORGANIZATION

NEW LEADERSHIP STARTS NEXT CHAPTER AT THE CHAMBER

Ravi Singh Christina Davis

country! Proud longtime sponsor of the parade.

WE ARE EXCITED TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU TODAY!

Happy Fourth of July! The LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce and its many community partners work hard every year to put on the Fourth Of July Parade.

The chamber is honored to present the 23rd annual event on Tuesday, July 4 with the theme, “Ultimate Summer!” We invited our participants to create floats and entries that celebrated what their dream summer plans would be with no limits! Of course, no SoCal summer would be complete without a trip to the beach, and we are proud to welcome the L.A. County Lifeguards as our 2023 Grand Marshals! Thank you to all our local lifeguards who keep our families, friends and neighbors safe, while they enjoy the surf and sand!

We look forward to seeing you all along Loyola Blvd., hearing your collective cheers and feeling the energy that you all bring on parade day.

-The Fourth of July Parade Committee

1. LAPD Pacific Area Junior Cadets

2. Salute to Our Sponsors with Squadron 51, Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary

3. L.A. #1 HOG

4. Councilwoman Traci Park

5. Venice High School’s Mighty Gondolier Marching Band

6. Westchester Del Rey Little League (WDRLL)

7. Friends of the Great Pyrenees

8. Westchester Arts & Music Block Party (WAM)

9. Grand Marshal, L.A. County Lifeguards

10. 501st Legion, Rebel Legion and Mandalorian Mercs with Road Squadron

11. Chamber Chair Ravi Singh and Honorary Mayor Christina Davis

12. St. Anastasia Catholic School

13. LAPD Leaders with LAPD West Traffic and Booster Club Representatives

Never been to the parade? Here is the scoop on this year’s event:

• The parade runs from 11 a.m. to approximately 12:30 p.m. and takes place along Loyola Blvd. in Westchester from Westchester Park to LMU.

• Seating is available along the parade route on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring your blankets and chairs, and plan to get there early if you have a particular area where you’d like to sit. The route is especially crowded near the announcer booths at Loyola at Manchester Ave.; Loyola at 83rd St. and Loyola at 80th St.

• Limited bleacher sitting is available at center stage (Loyola at 83rd St.)

• Parking for spectators is available at Loyola Marymount University, but cars must enter the university via Lincoln Blvd.

• An EMT will be stationed on Loyola at 83rd Street for any emergencies.

• For our parade pups, water bowls are available at

14. Maywood Academy Senior High School’s Marching Nighthawks Band

15. Woman’s Club of Playa del Rey

16. L.A. County Assessor Jeffrey Prang

17. Trash Can Band

18. Kentwood Elementary School

19. Rotary Clubs on Fire Trucks

20. Wright Middle School STEAM Drumline Band

announcer booths.

Visit our parade sponsor booths:

Our Admiral Sponsors are excited to celebrate with attendees and will have booths set up along the parade route with giveaways (while supplies last). At Westchester Park, Decron Properties will be passing out beverages and snacks. At center stage, the Stephanie Younger Group will be giving away red, white and blue swag like sunglasses. The Stephanie Younger Group is also the parade’s Official Water Sponsor and will be passing out drinks along the route!

Near LMU, Zacha Homes will be handing out patriotic balloons. Along Loyola, volunteers will also be handing out flags courtesy of Robin Zacha, the Parade’s Official Flag Sponsor!

Thank you to all our sponsors for supporting the LAX Coastal Fourth of July Parade!

Questions along the parade route? Ask a volunteer in an official parade shirt!

32. Calliope Man

33. NCWP Star of the Neighborhood

34. Del Rey American Little League (DRALL)

35. Immortal Lion Dancers

36. Westchester/Playa Historical Society

37. Westchester Scouts BSA

38. Redondo Union High School Band and Color Guard

39. WISH Community & Academy High School

40. AYSO Region 7

41. Notre Dame Academy

42. Westchester Lariats

43. Emerson Avenue Community Garden

44. Charro Horses

45. LAFD Bandwagon with Senator Ben Allen, Uncle Sam & Friends

46. Surf music tribute with Jet Pack

47. Chamber Staff & Parade Committee with Clean UP Westchester

LAPD Pacific Area Junior Cadets

Continuing our annual tradition, the LAPD Pacific Area Junior Cadets lead off our parade and proudly carry the American flag. The Cadets range from ages 14 to 20 and work in close partnership with LAPD Community Relations. They will be marching all the way to 80th Street to give everyone in attendance the chance to salute our nation’s flag.

“Ultimate Summer” Salute to our Sponsors with U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Cadets

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

Admiral Sponsors:

Decron Properties, Stephanie Younger Group, Zacha Homes and HomeTown News

Celebration Sponsors:

Cedars-Sinai, Rotary Club of Westchester, Otis College of Art and Design, Sunset Studios, Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation, Jane St. John RE/ MAX, Los Angeles World Airports, Suarez Team and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield

Patriot Sponsors: Loyola Marymount University, Neighborhood Council of Westchester/ Playa, Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club, Westchester Elks/Ladies of the Elks, Los Angeles Airport Marriott and Councilwoman Traci Park

Friends of the Parade: LAX Kiwanis Club, Tatiana Ruiz More | State Farm Covered with More, Cityview, KVG Insurance, Emerson Avenue Community Garden, Carousel School, SoCalGas, Three6ixty, South Bay Custom

GET IN THE GAME!

Integration, Calliope Man, Gail Goldstein & Rob Bird and Westside Neighborhood School

Firecracker Sponsor:

The Garrett Smith Family and Cantalini’s Salerno Beach

Walking with our sponsors to center stage is the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Squadron 51, who is making their second appearance in the LAX Coastal Fourth of July Parade. The Civil Air Patrol is the official U.S. Air Force auxiliary and is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members. Civil Air Patrol is tasked by the Air Force to perform 90 percent of the U.S. inland search and rescue missions. Adult volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of government agencies.

CAP is always looking for new cadets interested in learning about aerospace, leadership training, exploring aviation careers and so much more. The CAP Squadron 51 meets every Thursday in Santa Monica. For more info, visit cloverfield.cap.gov.

FALL REGISTRATION IS FILLING FAST! Avoid the waitlist and register today to join our community soccer league for ages 4 to 18.

The early bird special ($225) ends June 30. Don’t wait to register. Come out and play!

L.A. #1 HOG Chapter

Once again, members of L.A. #1 Harley Owners Group, or HOG for short, help kick off our spectacular parade on their shiny and patriotic motorcycles, just as they have been doing for the past two decades!

Today’s HOGs are enthusiastically sponsored by Marina del Rey’s Bartels’ Harley-Davidson, and they love to ride and enjoy a variety of fun activities centered around their American motorcycles. This local motorcycle chapter is proud to be a prominent participant in the LAX Coastal July Fourth Parade!

Got a Harley? Want a Harley? Either way, you are welcome to check out LA #1 HOG! Their only membership requirements are riding a Harley and a burning desire to have fun and meet people! Check them out at la1hog.com!

L.A. City Councilwoman Traci Park

The LAX Coastal Chamber would like to welcome Councilwoman Traci Park to our parade for the first time as an elected official! Councilwoman Traci Park is dedicated to making a positive impact in the community and

represents the LAX Coastal area at city hall.

Park was raised in a family that highly valued hard work, and she became the first person in her family to attend college. She earned degrees from both Johns Hopkins University and Loyola Law School. Following a successful 20-year career as a municipal attorney, Park decided to take on a new challenge and serve as a representative for the residents of CD11 on the L.A. City Council.

Park’s commitment to her district is unwavering, and she promises to be responsive to the needs of residents and stakeholders. She advocates for urgent and compassionate solutions to homelessness and is committed to keeping CD11 communities safe. She also fights for the Westside business community and works to increase affordable housing for workers on the Westside.

Park prioritizes sustainable policies that protect our natural surroundings, improve the economy, and mitigate climate change. She champions investment in workforce development that supports careers in green and clean-tech industries. Above all, Park is committed to hearing and learning from all residents and business owners in the district to build a sustainable, resilient, and #Better11.

Fall Season

Registration is OPEN!

4 OF JULY th

The Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary is a proud supporter of the parade and loves to volunteer! Learn about all our volunteer opportunities at playavenice.org!

We meet Wednesdays at 7:15 am at MdR's Whiskey Reds.

Thank you to our sponsors and friends for carrying the flag down the parade route!

Venice High’s Mighty Gondolier Marching Band

Marching in our parade this year is the Venice High (VHS) School Mighty Gondolier Marching Band, led by drum majors Evan Doi and Etai Miller. The band’s director is Scott Sutherland who has led the band through the 2022-2023 year!

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

You can help learn more and support the Mighty Gondolier Marching Band by visiting GondalierBoosters.org.

Westchester Del Rey Little League

Dating back to 1974, the Westchester Del Rey Little League (WDRLL) has a rich history of putting kids first and serving the community by providing opportunities for children to participate in softball and tee-ball. The league has grown to include more than 300 players and feeds athletes into high school and collegiate teams.

Players from all five divisions of the league are represented in today’s parade, including Juniors (14 and under), Majors (12 and under) and Minors (10 and under) All Stars. Players and their families are proud to be a part of such a successful and longstanding community-based organization!

Today’s parade is a fun and memorable experience for everyone involved. WDRLL and its sponsors would like to thank the community for its support!

Friends of the Great Pyrenees

Back for their 22nd appearance in the parade, these Great Pyrenees dogs aren’t just famous and beloved in the Westchester/Playa community!

You may have seen them on TV, winning at the Westminster Dog Show. Or in the movies Santa Paws, Finding Neverland or The Biggest Little Farm, guarding the livestock of Apricot Lane Farms. They also make great therapy and service dogs, not to mention wonderful family pets.

Come say hi! The big white fluffy dogs are easy to spot, and their pet parents absolutely love to talk about them!

Let’s hear it for these patriotic pups!

Westchester Arts & Music Block Party (WAM)

The Westchester Arts & Music (WAM) Block Party returns to the parade this year for its 8th appearance. Celebrating “Ultimate Summer Music Venues” and keeping with its history of live music performances, this year’s WAM float features the WISH Academy High School Contemporary Music Ensemble!

Come join the community for a full day of art, music, dance, food and fun on September 23 starting at noon on Emerson Ave. All proceeds will go to the Westchester Family YMCA.

Get in on the action by sponsoring, vending or volunteering. Go to wamblockparty.org for more information.

Grand Marshal: L.A. County

Lifeguards

Let’s give a big parade welcome to our 2023 “Ultimate Summer” Grand Marshals: the Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguards! No summer would be complete without a trip to one of our beautiful local beaches, and while we have fun surfing and swimming in the waves, our county lifeguards are there to keep us and our families safe!

Our county lifeguards have a long-standing tradition of being one of the top ocean lifeguarding agencies in the world. To become a lifeguard, it is recommend that prospects train for at least six months to prepare for the 1,000 meter ocean swim exam before they head to the lifeguard training academy.

Joining us today from the L.A. County Lifeguards are Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Sean Nollan and Westchester resident and Lifeguard Captain, Julio Rodriguez.

Thanks for helping ensure that the thousands of people that visit our beaches every June through September have an Ultimate Summer!

501st Legion, Rebel Legion and the Mandalorian Mercs with Road Squadron

The 501st Legion, Rebel Legion and the Mandalorian Mercs are volunteer groups comprised of members that build screen-accurate and meticulously crafted Star Wars universe costumes and wear them while supporting local community and charity events such as Relay for Life, Alzheimer’s Walks, library literacy events and more. The local chapters appearing today are Sunrider Base of the Rebel Legion, Southern California Garrison of the 501st Legion and Manda’galaar Clan of the Mandalorian Mercs. These out-of-this-world groups have now become parade favorites!

Joining the 501st today is Road Squadron. Founded by Shawn “Obi-Shawn” Crosby in 1999, this group began as a small handful of rag-tag Star Wars tribute cars. Today, Road Squadron has grown to 300 builders around the United States and features creations inspired by many sciencefiction film franchises. Road Squadron has used its vehicles to bring awareness and assistance to more than 200 charity organizations through thousands of visits over their 23 years.

Read more about local members of these groups on page 4 of the Hometown News

Chamber Chair Ravi Singh & Honorary Mayor Christina Davis

Please give a warm welcome to the chamber’s new board chair, Ravi Singh, who is riding in the parade today with his family.

Ravi is the Vice President of Growth and Development for PBS Engineers.

In his role as Board Chair, Ravi looks forward to continuing to support both the business and local community, and helping the chamber reach new heights with membership, leadership and events. Ravi’s focus this year will be supporting

small business and encouraging corporate sponsors to step up and give back to the community and local nonprofits.

Ravi has selected Christina Davis as his Honorary Mayor. Christina is the Executive Director at Gateway to LA, where she oversees the organization to make sure Century Blvd. is clean and safe for visitors from around the world. Next month on August 13, Gateway will host the “Century Stroll for Mental Health” a fundraiser to support Airport Marina Counseling Service that will highlight the wonderful chefs that cook up culinary delights along Century Blvd. Tickets will be available at amcshelps.com.

St. Anastasia Catholic School

Here comes St. Anastasia Catholic School and Parish’s annual Fourth of July Parade float, a tradition they’ve proudly upheld for more than a decade! This year, they present “The Ultimate Summer: Riding a Wave Together for 70 Years.” They’re encouraging us to ditch the screens and hop onboard with them as they celebrate the spirit of togetherness.

As encouraged by the LAX Coastal Chamber’s Parade Committee, their float is adorned with recycled and recyclable materials, including student’s homework pages, old workbooks, Amazon boxes and old electronics that will be responsibly disposed of after the parade, as well as beach artifacts. They invite you to come be a part of their team, because there’s always room for more!

At St. Anastasia Catholic School, they are committed to nurturing the holistic development of their students through religious, academic, physical and social-emotional growth.

For the past 70 years, they have been shaping young lives within our community, offering education from junior kindergarten to eighth grade.

To learn more about St. Anastasia Catholic School or to schedule a tour, please visit school.st-anastasia.org. Go Panthers!

Thank you to Giulia Filippi for singing the National Anthem at the start of today’s parade!

Giulia is a Westchester resident and rising sophomore at El Segundo High School where she is a member of the Chamber Singers.

She also sings for the National Children’s Chorus and has performed at Carnegie Hall and Disney Hall.

Giulia enjoys musical theater and has had numerous roles in local productions, including as Lucy in “Snoopy the Musical, Mrs. Potts in “Beauty and the Beast,” The Acrobat in “Matilda,” and Rapunzel in “Into the Woods.”

Let’s hear it for our National Anthem singer!

LAPD Leaders with LAPD West Traffic & Booster Club

It is the mission of the Los Angeles Police Department to safeguard lives and property in the communities it serves; to reduce the incidence and fear of crime and to enhance public safety. The mandate of the men and women of the LAPD is to perform these services with honor, integrity and the highest ethical standards. Riding in the parade today are Pacific Area Police Station Captain Michael Applegate and new Pacific Area Booster Association Board Member Katrina Woolverton. They are joined by the LAPD West Traffic Division on motorcycles. Have a safe and Happy Fourth of July from the LAPD to you!

Maywood Academy Senior High School’s Marching Nighthawks Band

Let’s hear it for the Maywood Academy High School Marching Nighthawks and Color Guard and the Chester W. Nimitz Middle School Band from Maywood! Under the direction of Reggie Smith and Daisy Hernandez, as well as the leadership of drum major Jasmine Rivera, the 2022-23 school year has been a successful one!

These two award-winning bands and color guards are performing today as the super group “The Maywood City Marching Band and Color Guard!”

They would like to thank Frank Garcia, the Mayor of Maywood and the Maywood City Council for providing bus funding so the group can be music ambassadors representing the beautiful city of Maywood! They would like to extend their hands in friendship to their wonderful neighbors of Westchester!

The Nighthawks would also like to thank the principal of Maywood Academy High School, Mrs. Maricella Garcia, the principal of Nimitz Middle School, Dr. Guillermina Jauregui, and the wonderful band, color guard students and parents for their sacrifice to make today a reality!

You represent the best from the city of Maywood!

“Coco” July 4

“Fantasy Beast: Secrets of Dumbledore” July 28

Summer Mass Schedule at Sacred Heart Chapel

Sundays at 10 a.m. (all summer) & Weekdays at 12:05 p.m.

(May 15 – June 23 and June 26 – Aug. 14)

Come Summer with Us!

Next LMU Neighborhood Advisory Committee Meeting Aug. 9 | 6:30 p.m. on Zoom

Join us for these free community events that are open to the public. More info at community.lmu.edu/summer

Exhibit at the William H. Hannon Library:

“From Their Perspective:

Register for the meeting and view the agenda at: https://community.lmu.edu/NACmeeting

Historical Los Angeles”

If you do not have access to a computer or Zoom, you can call into the meeting at 669.900.6833. Meeting ID: 883 1213 1924

June 1 – July 31

LMU’s Shakespeare on the Bluff at Drollinger Family Stage

“The Merry Wives of Windsor”

“Macbeth”

community.lmu.edu

310.338.2759 community@lmu.edu

June 22 – 24 at 8 p.m.

July 20 – 22 at 8 p.m.

Summer Movie Nights at Drollinger Family Stage

“Coco”

“Fantasy Beast: Secrets of Dumbledore”

Happy Summer y'all! We have so much in season and to choose from, please follow us on social media for updates & be sure to sign up for our parade float (link through our website)!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! WE WILL BE OPEN OVER 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND (SUNDAY JULY 2ND), SWING BY FOR ALL YOUR PICNIC AND BBQ FIXINS AND BE SURE TO JOIN US FOR WESTCHESTER'S 4TH OF JULY PARADE ON THE 4TH - YOU'LL SEE US WITH OUR KIDS TRAIN FLOAT, CHOO CHOO!

July 4

7

July 28

Summer Mass Schedule at Sacred Heart Chapel

Sundays at 10 a.m. (all summer) & Weekdays at 12:05 p.m.

(May 15 – June 23 and June 26 – Aug. 14)

Next LMU Neighborhood Advisory Committee Meeting

Aug. 9 | 6:30 p.m. on Zoom

Register for the meeting and view the agenda at: https://community.lmu.edu/NACmeeting

If you do not have access to a computer or Zoom, you can call into the meeting at 669.900.6833. Meeting ID: 883 1213 1924

community.lmu.edu

310.338.2759

community@lmu.edu

SUMMER CROPS

Woman’s Club of Playa del Rey

The Woman’s Club of Playa Del Rey is excited to be participating in the annual Fourth of July Parade! Founded in 1938, the Woman’s Club of Playa del Rey is a nonprofit organization made up of a diverse group of women who volunteer their time, talents and energy to support and promote civic, cultural and educational efforts in Playa del Rey, Silicon Beach and surrounding communities.

Club President Julie Lansing is leading the way in today’s parade followed by the club’s members, who for this event, have easily embraced their roles as “Beach Babes,” to pay tribute to the iconic TV series Bay Watch! As you can see, all their members are babes!

The club meets every second Tuesday of the month at their own clubhouse on Manchester in Playa del Rey. They also meet regularly for beach walks and other social events. For more information, please contact Vicki Ohliger at vohliger@msn.com

L.A. County Assessor

Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang was elected in 2014 as the 27th Assessor for the County of Los Angeles and re-elected in 2018 and 2022.

Raised in Warren, Michigan, Assessor Prang is a graduate of Michigan State University. After graduation, Prang relocated to California where he served nearly 18 years as a council member for the City of West Hollywood.

Upon taking the office of the Los Angeles County Assessor, Prang implemented sweeping reforms to ensure that the strictest ethical guidelines rooted in fairness, accuracy and integrity would be adhered to in his office.

Assessor Prang is a State Board of Equalization licensed appraiser and administers the largest office of its kind in the nation with 1,400 employees which provides the foundation for a property tax system that generates $19 billion annually.

Thank you for joining us today, Assessor Prang!

Trash Can Band

Did you know you could turn a regular household garbage can into a musical instrument?

Well, that’s exactly what the Trash Can Band has done!

Led by John Melville, here’s the one and only band that makes great music with the help of a trash can! Sit back and cover your ears, because it’s going to get loud!

Kentwood Elementary School

School may be out for the Ultimate Summer, but the Kentwood Koalas are proud of our community all year round! The students are so excited to celebrate the Fourth of July with you, while jamming to classic summer rock favorites and, of course, the school’s mascot Kenny the Koala is dressed in his summer best!

Voted “Best Traditional Public Elementary School” in the Hometown News’ Best Of poll, Kentwood offers an excellent education for grades TK through fifth grade with a diverse range of enrichment for all of our students, including coding, an Innovation Lab, gardening, PE, yoga, dance, theater, art and more!

Founded in 1945 and located in the heart of

Westchester, Kentwood Elementary supports the local neighborhood community. They believe all children can learn and grow to succeed as safe, responsible and respectful members of our diverse and inclusive community. For more information, visit kentwoodes-lausd-ca.schoolloop.com or call them at (310) 670-8977.

Rotary Clubs on Firetrucks

Please welcome the Playa Venice Sunrise and Westchester Rotarians, friends of the LAX Coastal Chamber and the Los Angeles City Fire Department!

Rotary is a service group made up of dedicated people who use their “time, talent and treasure” to give back to our community, supporting such projects as scholarships, service projects and today’s parade.

Longtime Westchester resident, Hilton Brown, is the newly installed President of the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club and is riding on the firetruck today with his family. Representing Westchester Rotary is new President, Eric Medrano!

Happy Fourth of July from Rotary to you!

Wright Middle School STEAM Drumline Band & Dance Team

Let’s listen to the sounds of the Sea Hawk Drum Line! This marching musical group proudly represents the pride of Wright Middle School STEAM and Gifted Magnet under the direction of Eleni Maureas. The Sea Hawk Dance Team is under the direction of Michelle Blunt.

Wright Middle School STEAM and Gifted Magnets is now accepting applications for students in grades six through eight for the 20232024 school year.

Wright offers scholars rigorous academic courses rooted in project-based learning, and students can enjoy a variety of award-winning extracurricular programs from music to robotics. Students can also participate in the arts with band, orchestra, theater, a music creators lab, and more.

This year, Wright is also launching a Spanish Dual Immersion Program.

Learn more at wrightms.org or email Roxanne Schultz at roxanne.schultz@lausd.net.

Wright Middle School is where everyone belongs and diversity is celebrated!

Ladies

of the Westchester Elks

Marching in the Parade since 2007, The Ladies of the Westchester Elks were founded in 1958 as a social club to support the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks Lodge #2050. In more recent years, they have become more known in the community for their various contributions to organizations like Westchester Little League, the Mar Vista Family Center, the LAPD Toy Drive and the Union Rescue Mission.

The meetings are held at Elks Lodge #2050 at 8025 W. Manchester Ave. in Playa del Rey every first Monday of the month. Members in good standing can participate in leadership roles, volunteer for events and enjoy fun social outings. Ladies of the Elks meetings are open to those that want to learn more about what the club does! Visit facebook.com/ Ladiesofthewestchesterelks or call the club’s President Juanita D’Andrea at (310) 293-0773.

Westchester Farmers’ Market

Here comes the Westchester Farmers’ Market train filled with local families who love their weekly market! The market brings together farmers, neighbors and the community each and every week at the Westchester Triangle on 87th St. Stop by on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to join the festivities!

Everyone is invited to the market on

Sunday, August 6 for the its 7th anniversary celebration!

All your favorite farmers and vendors will be there, along with live music and plenty of family fun! The Westchester Farmers’ Market would like to thank its market sponsors and community for its ongoing support! The market would not be possible without the support of the Westchester Town Center BID, the Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation and the Stephanie Younger Group.

Visit westchesterfarmersmkt.com and follow them on social media for updates.

Westchester Park

New to the parade this year is Westchester Park, reminding all of us to get out there and have fun at your local green space!

The park encompasses multiple facilities: the Westchester Recreation Center, the Senior Center and banquet hall, tennis/pickleball courts, a swimming pool, the Loyola Library and a golf course.

The Westchester Recreation Center oversees the Senior Center, two gyms, a playground, a skateboard park, three lit baseball diamonds and a large lit multi-purpose field! Programs include basketball, volleyball, karate, after school programs, skateboard lessons, baseball, flag football, girls’ and boys’ lacrosse, a famous Halloween haunted house and more!

The goal of the Westchester Recreation Center is to help children interact with one

another on a positive level, providing a safe, fun environment where the whole family can share time together and improve their quality of life.

The Westchester Senior Center offers Zumba, morning walks, concerts, dances, karaoke, chair yoga, bingo, chess, arts & crafts and nutritious hot lunches for those 50-plus.

Grab the family and go have fun at Westchester Park! A special thank you to Paul Romeo for providing the two vintage cars the park is using in today’s parade.

Learn more at laparks.org/reccenter/ westchester or follow the park on Instagram @westchesterreccenter.

Los Angeles World Airports

Want to extend the delights of your ultimate summer year-round? At LAX, they can’t wait for the community to experience the joy of soaking up the sunshine and soaring above traffic on their Automated People Mover (APM). Hop on board and in 10 minutes or less, people can travel with ease to and from the airport’s central terminal area. With new trains arriving every two minutes, the stress of getting to the airport will be behind you as you start your trip or return home. Team LAWA looks forward to welcoming you aboard the APM in 2024!

Celebrating the upcoming train’s arrival at LAX and representing the airport today we have LAWA’s Airport Affairs team, LAX Airport Police Division officers and command staff and

PUPs from the airport’s renowned pet therapy program. With their participation today, LAWA is also spotlighting the valuable contributions made by the airlines, concessionaires, airport partners and fellow agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Federal Aviation Administration. Working together, these partners provide exceptional guest experiences to travelers from the region and around the globe.

Let’s give a big cheer to Team LAWA! We can’t wait to soar above traffic with you.

For more info on LAX’s transformation, visit flylax.com.

June

June 15 - August 15 | Ages 12-18* years old *Anyone

*Anyone

*Anyone

June 15 - August 15 | Ages 12-18* years old

June 15 - August 15 | Ages 12-18* years old

LA Y “Get Summer” teen initiative is designed to keep teens active, engaged, and safe while school’s out for summer. Ys across Los Angeles County are o ering free memberships to all teens, ages 12-18 years old. Individual branches will provide youth with academic support, college and employment readiness, volunteer opportunities, social gatherings, and exclusive programming with local partners.

The LA Y “Get Summer” teen initiative is designed to keep teens active, engaged, and safe while school’s out for summer. Ys across Los Angeles County are o ering free memberships to all teens, ages 12-18 years old. Individual branches will provide youth with academic support, college and employment readiness, volunteer opportunities, social gatherings, and exclusive programming with local partners.

The LA Y “Get Summer” teen initiative is designed to keep teens active, engaged, and safe while school’s out for summer. Ys across Los Angeles County are o ering free memberships to all teens, ages 12-18 years old. Individual branches will provide youth with academic support, college and employment readiness, volunteer opportunities, social gatherings, and exclusive programming with local partners.

Scan QR code to learn more or go to: ymcaLA.org/getsummer

LA Y “Get Summer” teen initiative is designed to keep teens active, engaged, and safe while school’s out for summer. Ys across Los Angeles County are offering free memberships to all teens, ages 12-18 years old. Individual branches will provide youth with academic and employment readiness, volunteer opportunities, social gatherings, and exclusive programming with local partners.

Scan QR code to learn more or go to: ymcaLA.org/getsummer

Scan QR code to learn more or go to: ymcaLA.org/getsummer @yteensLA

Visitation Catholic School

Visitation Bulldogs are excited to be celebrating an “Ultimate Summer” in the 23rd Annual LAX Coastal Parade! Leading the march today is the school’s 2023 Teacher of the Year, Mr. Nunez! Mr. Nunez teaches sixth through eighth grade math at Visitation and coaches basketball, track and field, and cross country.

Joining him today are proud students and representatives of the school’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Be on the lookout for a new mural on campus next year, which will be created by staff and students this summer with one clear message, “All Are Welcome!”

You can learn more about Visitation’s academic excellence, inclusive community and stellar athletics on the school’s website at visitationschool.org or by following them on social media.

Go Bulldogs and Happy Fourth of July!

Kentwood Players

The Kentwood Players have participated in this parade every year since the beginning! Within the walls of Westchester Playhouse, the Kentwood Players have presented well-received and exceptionally reviewed shows, in their 112-seat theater located at 8301 Hindry Avenue near the new Metro K-line. They’re a nonprofit membership organization of about 200 volunteers dedicated to giving community members a great theatrical experience. Join them at their next production, “Moon over Buffalo,” opening on July 21!

In 2025, the playhouse will be celebrating 75 years of presenting high-quality award-winning plays and musicals!

Visit kentwoodlayers.org or find them at facebook.com/KentwoodPlayers.org to learn more.

Loyola Marymount University

For the past 23 years, Loyola Marymount University has been a proud participant and sponsor of Westchester’s Fourth of July Parade hosted by the LAX Coastal Chamber! Their float celebrates the best of our community and our country. This year, they celebrate the Ultimate Summer, and walking down Loyola today are members of the LMU men’s basketball team, women’s volleyball teams, and of course, Iggy the Lion!

LMU is a nationally ranked research university, and its flagship campus is right here in Westchester. For more than a century, LMU has empowered bold thinkers and compassionate change-makers as they prepare graduates for successful lives of purpose and impact. The university invites you to discover its top-10 film school and its other top-ranked undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs. Come join our ambitious pursuit to ignite a brighter world!

This month, the community is invited to visit the university for performances of Shakespeare on the Bluff featuring “Macbeth” and familyfriendly movie nights. Learn more at community. lmu.edu/summer.

Go Lions!

Westchester Family YMCA

At the Westchester Family YMCA, they build more than muscle!

The Westchester institution is committed to building community by strengthening families, promoting health and well-being through equitable and inclusive services and programs that focus on youth, teen and adult development. They are currently taking registrations for their summer programming, including the “Get Summer” program where teens can join for free through August 15. The Y also recently launched its Teen Center and is getting ready to start work on an amazing mural to transform the front of their building.

For more information about ongoing programming, visit them at ymcala.org/wc and follow them on facebook.com/ westchesterfamilyymca.

Los Angeles Ghostbusters

Let’s welcome newcomers, the Los Angeles Ghostbusters to the LAX Coastal Fourth of July Parade! This volunteer cosplay group provides fans with an authentic Ghostbusters experience while raising awareness for philanthropic causes. They have combined forces with the Starlight Children’s Foundation to deliver happiness to seriously ill kids and their families. These homegrown heroes recently raised $40,000 to provide fun Ghostbuster-themed hospital gowns to children in need across the country! If there’s something strange in your neighborhood, you know who to call!

As an official franchise of Ghost Corps., a division of Columbia Pictures Industries Inc., the Los Angeles Ghostbusters help deliver happiness to thousands of hospitalized kids while displaying a professional demeanor that brings dignity, recognition and fun to the Ghostbusters brand. Today, local ghostbusters are making their way down Loyola Blvd. with their Ectomobiles ready for any paranormal activity!

Saint Monica Preparatory

Here comes Saint Monica Preparatory (SMPREP), the Hometown News’ reigning Best Private High School, which has been participating in the parade since 2017. SMPREP just completed its first year as one unified transitional kindergarten through 12th grade school in the heart of Santa Monica.

It’s a new chapter in the school’s nearly 100year history of offering a place for students to grow in body, mind and spirit within a diverse Catholic community. As one school, Saint Monica Preparatory offers a dynamic and comprehensive learning environment where students are known, seen, challenged and

nurtured.

This year’s graduating class was accepted at competitive schools including UCLA, USC, Harvey Mudd College, University of Notre Dame, Holy Cross College, Boston College, Boston University, New York University, Carnegie Mellon University, Fordham University and more!

Marching in today’s parade are students, cheerleaders, athletes and families excited to wish you a Happy Fourth of July!

Visit saintmonicaprep.org or contact Director of Admissions Roxanna Vega-Warmington ‘97, at (310) 394-3701 x1305 to learn more about SMPREP’s transformative education to navigate an ever-changing world.

While we hope you are having fun and enjoying the parade with all the music, floats and marching groups, SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY!

A FIRST-AID STATION is located at the east corner of 83rd and Loyola. Need a band aid? We have basic first-aid kits at each announcer booth, on our golf carts and at the VIP tent at the starting line. Just ask a volunteer in a yellow parade shirt for assistance. LUXURY PORT-A-POTTIES courtesy of Sunset Studios are located at 85th & Loyola, 83rd & Loyola and 80th & Loyola. Bathrooms are also available at LMU and Westchester Park.

Please walk your bike or scooter if you need to cross the parade route. Riders that are not with any entry in the parade will be asked to walk their bikes/ scooters to ensure the safety of the parade entries and to keep the parade running smoothly. HAND SANITIZER will be available at the announcer booths. NEED WATER? Water is available for free at each announcer booth, at the VIP tent and will be passed out along the route by the Stephanie Younger Group. Dog bowls will also be available at the announcer booths.

Mar Vista Family Center

Folklorico Dancers

Grupo Folklorico Tzintzuni (pronounced ZinZuni) from Mar Vista Family Center is performing in the parade for the third year in row! Under the direction of Victor Herrera and Celeste Arredondo, the group has been dedicated to teaching and showcasing the different dances of Mexico to the community.

Folklorico is a complex style of dancing that embraces culture, history, roots and traditions of different regions of Mexico. From the flowing skirts and colorful wardrobe, its artistry has been embraced for generations. The group has been active for six years and is going strong! Learn more about the Mar Vista Family Center at marvistafc.org.

Calliope Man

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

The calliope is owned and driven by Westchester resident Thaine Morris. Playing the calliope is 80-year-old Robbie Rhodes, who used to play the calliope at Disneyland. Thank you, Thaine and Robbie, for celebrating our nation’s birthday with us!

NCWP Star of the Neighborhood

A Star of the Neighborhood is someone who quietly makes a difference in our community. They are the unsung heroes, but are wellknown by the lives they touch. Each Star of the Neighborhood, proudly picked by the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa (NCWP) every year, helps to better the lives of so many in our neighborhood.

This year, the NCWP is proud to recognize two Stars of the Neighborhood: Lucy Hahn and Jan Haagen from Friends of the Jungle! Today, Lucy is riding in the parade to celebrate some of the accomplishments that the Friends have made since 2016 including securing new parking spaces in lower Playa del Rey and having flashing cross walks installed on Culver Blvd.

Read more about Lucy, Jan and your local Neighborhood Council on page 31 of the Hometown News.

Del Rey American Little League

Del Rey American Little League (DRALL) wants to take you out to the ballgame! For

nearly 70 years, DRALL has provided the best youth baseball for boys and girls in Westchester and Playa del Rey! Last year, DRALL’s 12U team made a historic run, finishing as runner-up in the California State Championships and was recognized as the #6 Little League in the nation! This year, DRALL welcomed more than 300 players to their fields for another incredible season. Congratulations to the 2023 regular season champions: the Major White Sox, the Minor Nationals and co-champions the Hot Rods and Cannon Ballers for the Farm division. DRALL wishes the best of luck to their 2023 All-Stars teams as they look to defend their district title for all three divisions. Learn more at DRALL.org, or you can follow them on social media. Let’s root for the home team!

Immortal Lion Dancers

The Immortals are a renowned lion dance team based in Los Angeles who are joining our parade for the second time this year!

In the early 1960s, Jeff Chan informally established the Chinese Lion Dancers of Los Angeles when he took in a group of kids from the L.A. Chinatown neighborhood to train them in martial arts and lion dancing. He was the first person to start his own group not tied to a family association or Gung Fu school.

To this day, several of the original members still perform with their grown children. The Immortals have a deep history and have performed in numerous parades, festivals, special events, grand openings, races, and even the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies.

Today, you’ll see their members playing traditional music that accompanies their ceremonial folk dance, as well as multiple lions!

Westchester/Playa Historical Society

The Westchester/Playa Historical society wishes everyone a Happy Independence Day! Traveling down Loyola today in a 1962 Ford Thunderbird convertible are two of their board members.

The volunteer Historical Society is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and exhibiting all kinds of artifacts that tell the story of our communities. They invite you to visit their Discovery Center in the Westchester Triangle on Sundays when the farmers’ market is available to see the history they have on display!

Westchester Scouts BSA

Troop 915 and Troop 927, along with Cub Packs 748 and 824, have been Fourth of July Parade participants since the beginning! The Scouts are an organization that is dedicated to serving the community and our country.

This year, the Scouts are proud to celebrate the “Ultimate Summer” with one troop going to Philmont Ranch in New Mexico and the other troop spending one-week fishing in the Sierras, then off to summer camp north of San Francisco.

The Scouts of Westchester welcome both boys and girls to join and learn scouting skills that last a lifetime like leadership, organization and teamwork. Both Scout troops have served the Westchester area for more than 65 years, while the Cub Packs have been around for more than 50 years. As always, the mission of the Scouts is to “Do a good turn daily.”

Redondo Union High School

The Redondo Union (RUHS) Marching Band and Dance Guard is the flagship ensemble of the Redondo Union High School music and dance program. The band and guard have performed at various community parades, including the Disneyland Main Street Parade. The band’s various jazz and concert ensembles have traveled to perform at various venues all across the state and New Orleans and were selected for a special performance at Carnegie Hall.

The jazz bands have earned top honors and festival championship awards at several festivals, while the concert ensembles have earned several “Unanimous Superior” ratings at festivals. RUHS’ Winter Guard and Winter Percussion programs have earned top ratings and placements in their spring competitions.

In addition to earning consistent firstplace honors and awards during marching season, the band and guard have also been consistent finalists in the California State Band Championships and were the Division 4 Champions in 2021. Last year, they earned the silver medal in the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association with the guard earning the gold medal.

RUHS has been a consistent and proud participant in the LAX Coastal Chamber’s Fourth of July Parade for many years! The percussion is led by Mike Zmich and the guard is led by Cindy Frias. The Redondo Union Band and Guard has been under the direction of Ray Vizcarra since January of 2014.

WISH Community & Academy High Schools

WISH Community School & WISH Academy High School are thrilled to be celebrating “The Ultimate Summer” with the Westchester community as part of the beloved Fourth of July Parade!

Join their TK through 12th grade students as they hit the shore for a friends and family beach barbecue! Southern California is such a special place where we can enjoy our beaches all year round, but nothing beats meeting up with your friends and family around the fire pit at Dockweiler for the ultimate summer day. Whether you are playing football or volleyball, flying a kite or chasing a frisbee, frolicking on the shore, or riding the waves, the beach is the ultimate symbol of an awesome summer day. Accompanied by your favorite foods, ice-cold beverages, ice creams and s’mores as the sun sets, the joy of summer is encapsulated in this one, perfect, sunshiny day!

Established in 2010, WISH Community School & WISH Academy High School are free public schools serving all students in an inclusive and supportive environment. The WISH mission is to maximize every scholar’s learning potential within an atmosphere of caring and belonging. For more info, please visit wishcharter.org.

AYSO Region 7

AYSO Region 7 is here to share their love of soccer with our community! AYSO provides a positive, fair and fun soccer experience for all players.

Representing Region 7 today are many of our awesome youth athletes, including three teams that will be competing in the AYSO National Tournament later this month down in Irvine!

Let’s hear it for the Westchester Waves, the Westchester Wings and Westchester FC! We wish you luck in the National Tournament and know you will make Region 7 proud!

Region 7 encourages all kids, ages four to 18, to come out and play this fall.

No prior experience necessary. Register at ayso7.org.

Notre Dame Academy

Joining the parade for the second year in a row is Notre Dame Academy (NDA)! This allgirls high school is celebrating a record year in academics, STEM and athletics!

The Class of 2023 was awarded spots at some of the nation’s most selective colleges and universities, including Columbia University, Brown University, UCLA, UC Berkeley, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Boston College and USC.

Leading the parade today are student athletes who earned championships in basketball in CIF Southern Section Division 4; in beach volleyball’s Mission League, and in soccer in the “Best of the West” tournament. In addition, the rocketry team placed ninth out of 800 teams at the American Rocketry Challenge.

Notre Dame Academy is a Catholic, private all-girls high school educating young women to make a difference by living Gospel values since 1949. Generations of girls from Westchester and 75 other zip codes have been prepared for lives of purpose and passion at Notre Dame Academy. They invite you to experience NDA, and join them for fun summer basketball and volleyball camps.

To learn more about NDA’s transformative education and schedule a tour, visit ndasla.org or call (310) 839-5289. Go Regals!

Westchester Lariats

The Westchester Lariats have been an integral part of the Westchester community for more than 60 years and are as excited as ever to march for you today!

The Lariats are a nonprofit, international folk dancing youth group that teaches grades kindergarten through 12th about different cultures around the world through the medium of dance. The Lariats participate in an annual summer tour tradition where they travel to different parts of the world and perform at community events. For the Lariats, an international vacation would be their Ultimate Summer!

Led by artist and director Isabel Van Aalst (AKA Miss Isabel), rehearsals take place on Monday nights at the Westchester Townhouse! They welcome dancers of any ability, and classes start back up in September. For more information, visit their website at westchesterlariats.org. You’ll see the Lariats performing next at the WAM Block Party!

Emerson Avenue Community Garden

The Ultimate Summer at the Emerson Avenue Community Garden (EACG) involves lots of veggies and pollinator plants! The EACG is all about growing, which you see represented on their float. No parade would be complete without the Wheelbarrow Drill Team marching down Loyola!

The EACG is Westchester’s only community garden, and they offer a variety of sustainable organic gardening classes open to everyone, as well as other activities like a book club that meets in the green space. Recent capital improvements to the garden include concrete walking paths, a Monarch Butterfly way station, native garden, a fruit tree orchard, an herb garden, a pollinator garden, more than 30 garden plots and student plots for both WISH Charter and Wright STEAM Magnet!

Find the garden on the campus of Wright STEAM Magnet Middle School on Emerson Ave. between 80th Street and 80th Place. This year, the EACG wants to give a special shout-out to Dorothy Stone and Monica Chaban, two members who are part of the original garden group. They have both worked for 14 years to bring forth the vision that the space is today. The EACG give thanks to them, and also remembers pioneers they’ve lost along the way: Paula Cohen and Karen Schaffer. Learn about all the garden happenings and becoming a member at eacgc.com.

Charro Horses

The LAX Coastal Chamber is pleased to welcome the Charro Internacional de Compton to today’s parade. A charro is a skilled Mexican horseman, part of a tradition with origins in the 17th century. The charros are seen today in traditional costumes and riding their famous dancing horses.

LAFD 1932 Bandwagon with Uncle Sam & Friends

Here comes Uncle Sam wishing everyone in the audience a Happy and safe Fourth of July! He is joined by chamber members and special guests on this vintage 1932 LAFD Bandwagon!

Chamber Staff, the Fourth of July Parade Committee and Clean UP Westchester

Closing down the parade is the chamber staff riding with the Fourth of July Parade Committee and friends!

The chamber team–Chad Maender, Judith Ciancimino, Tacha Vilson and Mary-Catherine Micka–thank you for joining us again this year and supporting this neighborhood tradition! The LAX Coastal Chamber and Parade Committee would like to say a special thank you to today’s participants, volunteers, sponsors, residents of Loyola Blvd. and elected officials that make this event possible.

The chamber would also like to give a huge shout out to the amazing crew from Clean UP Westchester, led by Grant Francis, who is helping pick up trash along Loyola Blvd. as the parade wraps up. They help beautify our local streets with twice-a-month volunteer cleanups!

We’ll see you next year! Happy Fourth of July!

NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL OF WESTCHESTER / PLAYA

Working together to improve our communities!

“If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government, then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools.”

Lucy Han and Jan Haagen Named Stars of the Neighborhood

Congratulations to community volunteers Lucy Han and Jan Haagen, who have been named the 2023 NCWP Stars of the Neighborhood and will be honored during the annual Fourth of July Parade. The purpose of the award is to identify and honor those unsung heroes of our community who quietly, persistently and without fanfare voluntarily perform good deeds that serve the needs of their neighbors and/or the community.

Lucy and Jan have led Friends of The Jungle for many years. Their efforts have continued to create a true neighborhood feeling in the area known as The Jungle in Playa del Rey. From organizing community clean-ups to promoting the community, the pair has worked behind the scenes to make their neighborhood better.

Working with the city, they secured 16 new parking spaces in underparked Lower Playa del Rey. These public spaces are available to both residents and visitors. They also spearheaded the successful effort to convince the county to commit $600,000 to implement an annual cleaning of the storm drains, ensuring water is able to flow safely to the ocean and prevent the flooding of local residences and businesses.

“Lucy and Jan have been tireless in their efforts to improve and protect Lower Playa, and I believe their body of work makes them very deserving,” said Lisa Schwab, owner of Cantalini’s Salerno Beach restaurant, one of many people who nominated the pair for the award.

Lucy and Jan also succeeded in having the county build “the berm” each fall and remove it each spring, ensuring that local residents and businesses are protected from ocean flooding.

Of course their signature event, the annual Jungle Clean Up, established in 1977, is the oldest city-partnered clean-up event in Los Angeles and has helped keep the area clean by bringing neighbors together to pick up trash and beautify the community. Their cleanup efforts recently extended to the creek, where Lucy and Jan spearheaded efforts to find solutions to prevent the trash flowing down Ballona Creek from reaching the ocean. As a result, the county has installed the Interceptor which has already removed over 70,000 tons of trash from the creek.

“They’ve done so much work for our community,” said Playa del Rey resident Justin Gilbert. “We are so lucky to have them. And their hard work to get the Interceptor to clean up the ocean has been amazing.”

“While all of these things are essential in helping keeping our community running, clean, and accessible not just for residents, but for all our visitors to our beach, perhaps the most notable accomplishment this year was the launch of The Ballona Creek Trash Interceptor last October,” said Hollie Self. “Lucy and Jan worked tirelessly to bring The Ocean Cleanup’s interceptor into our neighborhood, and we will reap the benefits of this work for years to come. They are truly examples of the “love where you live” mentality and they make our community a better place for us all.”

But the dynamic duo is not close to done fighting for their beloved Playa del Rey.

They are currently spearheading the effort to create and “Adopt-A-Median” program on Imperial Highway, leading a coalition to keep the existing beach curfew from midnight to 5 a.m., and working with community leaders and Councilmember Traci Park’s staff to install a Mosaic Stairs project on the stairs connecting Pershing to Culver in downtown Playa del Rey.

Learn more about their efforts through Friends of The Jungle at www.FOTJ.org

Congratulations to Jan and Lucy – true Stars of the Neighborhood!

CWP~ Plato

Lucy Han Jan Haagen

New draft of Community Plan Update proposes residential zoning changes to neighborhood

By Cory Birkett and Kimberly Fox, on behalf of the Ad Hoc Community Plan Update Committee of the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa

The Community Plan Update for Westchester/Playa is proposing some zoning changes to parts of our neighborhood that may affect our homes, neighborhood character and daily commutes.

City Planning released the first Draft of the Community Plan Update in July 2020 and recently released a second draft. To help provide feedback and give our community a voice in this important document that will guide building in the area for decades, the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/ Playa has created an Ad Hoc committee, which meets the fourth Monday of each month.

Interested in learning more? Read on for a helpful Q&A to help understand more about the Community Plan Update.

Q. What is the Community Plan Update?

A. The Los Angeles City Planning Department is in the process of updating the Westchester/Playa Community Plan, which will be adopted at the same time as three other Westside Community Plans: Venice, Palms-Mar Vista-Del Rey, and West Los Angeles (planning.lacity.org/planspolicies/community-plan-update/ planning-westside).

The last plan for Westchester/Playa was adopted in 2004. This update is long overdue and an important step in guiding growth and development standards in our area. An updated Community Plan identifies the specific types of land use and development (residential, commercial and industrial) within the Westchester and Playa del Rey geography.

The Community Plan is important because it identifies and provides for economic opportunities, maintenance of significant environmental resources and seeks to enhance the community identity and unique character of our neighborhood. The document is owned and executed by the Los Angeles City Planning Department. As stakeholders, we are invited to provide input during the Community Plan Update process. Ultimately, our new plan will be adopted by the City Council, rolled into the Housing Element of the City General Plan, and all future development in our area will refer back to this document. Once our new plan is adopted by the City Council, it becomes the guideline for development for every single parcel of land in our geography.

Q. Why is creating more affordable housing an objective of the

Community Plan Update?

A. The Los Angeles City Plan’s General Housing Element identifies Los Angeles’s housing needs and opportunities and establishes clear goals to inform future housing decisions. The planning process is utilized to establish a fair share distribution of affordable housing on a citywide basis as informed by the Regional Housing Need Assessment (RHNA) process.

The General Plan also states that we must address lower income housing needs, as a growing percentage of Angelenos now qualify for “affordable housing.” Specifically, Westchester/ Playa has been identified as a higher opportunity area, meaning that we have “above average access to health care, services, economic activity, and quality education,” therefore we must take on a “fair share” of housing allocation needs.

Q. What was proposed in the first and second drafts of the Community Plan Update released in 2020 and 2023?

A. The first draft of the Community Plan Update was released in 2020, after which City Planning held sessions to solicit stakeholder feedback.

In a summary of feedback released in 2021, 59 percent of stakeholders in Westchester/Playa strongly disagreed with the first draft’s “Emerging Vision Statement.” Residents expressed concerns about some of the City’s proposed zoning changes for the major corridors of our community. Other concerns included proposed zoning changes leading to the loss of existing affordable housing options and creating inappropriate transitions between dense, high-scale development with lower-scale residential areas. In addition, the housing created by upzoning would not adequately address the affordable housing crisis.

The first draft concepts, now under revision, could introduce mixed-use zoning along Manchester, building off of existing commercial nodes at La Tijera, Sepulveda, Lincoln and Pershing Drive. These corridors are also the major arteries that are used to access LAX, so there is concern that higher density along these streets will result in even more traffic and infrastructure burden.

The current Draft 2.0 (planning. lacity.org/plans-policies/communityplan-update/westside-events/westsidecommunity-planning-advisory-group) now undergoing review, is targeting multiple residential zoning changes to R1 single family neighborhoods throughout Westchester. In these areas, City Planning is proposing a zoning change in R1 single family neighborhoods to “Low Medium Residential,” meaning four units with three stories would be allowable per lot. These changes are proposed in the following R1 neighborhoods:

• Kentwood (on Map WPDR 3, between Sepulveda on the east, Emerson to the west, Manchester to the south and 83rd to the north.)

• Westport Heights (on Map WPDR 4, west portion near the La Tijera and Manchester intersection between La Tijera on the east, Sepulveda to the west, 83rd to the north and Manchester to the south.)

• Emerson Manor (on Map WPDR 2, from El Manor to the east, Emerson to the west, Manchester to the north and 88th to the south.)

• Osage north of Manchester (on Map WPDR 6, orientation from corner of Manchester and La Tijera heading east. The northeast edge is La Tijera to the 405. The southeast edge is 85th Place, parallel to Manchester. Then the boundary heads north at Winsford

Ave. (next to the Police Academy) until it hits W. 83rd St. going east to La Cienega.)

• Osage South of Manchester (on Map WPDR 5, orientation from corner of Manchester and La Tijera heading south. Manchester defines the north boundary. To the south, at the intersection near La Tijera and Will Rogers Street, which runs northeast defining the lower boundary. At Yorktown Ave., the boundary turns southeast until it ends at Airport Blvd. The portion of Airport Blvd. between Manchester and Lilienthal is the east boundary).

Since this is currently in Draft 2.0 format, any of these proposals are subject to change as the process moves forward. It’s also important to note that State Bill 9 (which took effect in January 2022) makes it currently permissible for an owner or developer to build four units on a single family lot in an existing R1 neighborhood anywhere in California, so these zoning changes would essentially be allowing the same number of units per lot as SB 9.

A more substantial upzoning is proposed for the Triangle area of Osage (on Map WPDR 8, between Airport Blvd., La Tijera and Manchester) from R2 which is currently single family homes and duplexes to “Medium,” which would allow for three to five stories and up to 10 units per lot. Potentially a significant zoning change City Planning proposed in the first draft concepts was elevating Manchester Avenue’s identity to an active, walkable street corridor with retail and housing options. This zoning change has the potential to affect adjacent R1, R2 and R3 neighborhoods currently zoned with single family (continued on next page)

An April 2023 draft of some areas of Westchester that are proposed for upzoning.

Community Plan (continued)

(continued from previous page) homes, duplexes and small apartment buildings and allow higher density, mixed-use (housing and retail) development.

One goal of the Community Plan is to create more affordable housing opportunities, and according to feedback, residents felt these zoning changes would actually remove affordable housing options in some of the most diverse neighborhoods by replacing them with mostly market rate units. Other concerns expressed by residents were that these zoning changes would decrease quality of life, increase traffic and decrease property values for residents near zoning changes.

Q. Where are we now in the Community Plan Update process?

A. City Planning is currently working on Draft 2.0 of the Community Plan Update, which they are still refining with the Westside Community Plan Advisory Group. In early 2024, City Planning hopes to begin the Environmental Impact Report process which will last roughly one year to draft and make further amendments. During this period, they will continue to accept stakeholder feedback. The final Community Plan Update will most likely be adopted and implemented sometime in 2025 or 2026.

Q. What is the Neighborhood Council’s Community Plan Update Ad Hoc Committee and why should people get involved?

A. The Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa (NCWP) has a committee dedicated to the

Community Plan Update. The mission of the committee is to educate and engage Westchester/Playa stakeholders about the process. Updating our plan will involve addressing issues of open space, development, transportation, public services, mobility, safety and maintenance of quality of life, as they relate locally to the neighborhoods that comprise Westchester/Playa.

The Ad Hoc Committee recognizes that Westchester/Playa has unique challenges and circumstances that should be addressed due to our proximity to LAX and the impact the airport has on our local transportation, traffic and infrastructure. With the Silicon Beach hub of Playa Vista to the north, LAX to the south and the largest public beach (Dockweiler) and Ballona Wetlands to the west, we have

a responsibility to preserve our natural resources, promote a sustainable environment, and responsibly add more housing (in particular, affordable housing).

The committee welcomes your participation and feedback in regard to how to implement thoughtful and strategic growth in the Community Plan Update while striving to maintain the unique character of Westchester/ Playa. The committee meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. For more details, please visit the NCWP calendar at ncwpdr.org/ calendar.

Cory Birkett and Kimberly Fox are volunteer members of the NCWP Ad Hoc Community Plan Update Committee.

We’re excited to celebrate with you at this year’s parade, and we want to see your photos for a chance to participate in a fun giveaway! While the event will be full of entries highlighting “Ultimate Summer” we want to focus on a local treasure—our Westchester/Playa community! Here’s how to participate in our Fourth of July Photo Contest:

1. Follow the HomeTown News and LAX Coastal Chamber on IG at @thehometownnews and @laxcoastal

2. Post your photos from the Fourth of July Parade and tag the HomeTown News and the LAX Coastal Chamber. Use the hashtag #laxcoastalparade

One lucky photographer will be selected to receive a $25 gift card to a local restaurant. Photos must be submitted by Monday, July 10th.

Scan QR code for @thehometownnews on IG

Westchester teacher brings stylish picnics and sunshine to local parks and beaches

By Shanee Edwards

Some of Westchester resident Shannon Macedo’s best memories about growing up in SoCal are with her parents. As a kid, Shannon and her dad would spend summer days up at Will Rogers Park on the edge of the scenic Santa Monica Mountains.

“We’d ride horses and have picnics there all the time. That’s my special

Picnics and Sunshine is a side hustle for Shannon, a third-grade teacher at Westchester Lutheran. Born out of the pandemic, she got the idea for the business when it became clear that people felt safer and more at ease eating outdoors.

While Southern California typically has great weather for dining alfresco, its parks and beaches are surprisingly unequipped with comfortable, stylish

parks–wherever people want. Instead of just laying a blanket on the ground, I make it luxurious,” she says.

When it comes to selecting the perfect picnic table, the foundation of all the experiences she creates, Shannon is hands-on as well. Thanks to the woodworking skills she learned from her adoring dad, she’s been making her own tables.

experience comes from using real dinnerware and flatware, including gorgeous ceramic plates, wine glasses and cloth napkins. Shannon also makes sure to bring a plethora of pillows and blankets to make people comfortable and add to the ambience.

The only thing not included are the meals, but if her clients order from a nearby eatery, she’s happy to pick it up, lay it out and even provide the necessary accoutrements from ice buckets to dessert towers.

As easy and picture-perfect as the picnic staging appears in the photos on her website, there are definitely challenges. While L.A. is known for its sunny weather, these past few months have been unusually rainy and windy—less than ideal circumstances for picnicking.

“Valentine’s Day this year had horrible weather, and I had picnics every day that week,” she says.

One memorable setup on the beach had the wind howling and blowing

(continued on next page)

Shannon Macedo poses in the front yard of her Kentwood home.

(continued from previous page)

“We were falling over sideways. I’m calling this guy who was inland where it wasn’t really that windy,” says Shannon. “He kept saying, ‘Could you please try?’ I had to take a video of the sand from ground level. I said, ‘Please watch this video. Look at the sand moving. I’m trying to tell you if I set it up, you will not have a good time.’ We ended finding them a little cove at a nearby park where they were protected from the wind and it all worked out.”

With a business that relies on creating a perfect setting while battling the elements, being able to think on your feet and creatively problem-solve are important traits.

Another challenge came when a bride asked Shannon to set up a picnic at Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach for a bridesmaid reveal party. To create a more scenic vibe, her client wanted the table set up near the pond where ducks and geese swim, which was supposed to create an idyllic backdrop. While having a picnic in a place where migratory birds make their home sure is beautiful, it has its downside, too.

“There was duck poop everywhere! My poor husband had to drive home and get a shovel. We were putting

tarps down and trying to protect everything,” says Shannon. “I just didn’t want this poor girl to be kneeling or sitting and, well, you know. But it ended up beautiful.”

She shares that it’s important to have a sense of humor and always arrive at a location early–just in case. Her husband has now added rubber gloves to their emergency kit.

So far, her business ebbs and flows depending on holidays and the weather, but now that school’s out for summer and the sun is shining, things should be getting busy.

She says starting her own business has taught her a lot about herself.

“I’ve had to get out of my comfort zone, which has made me more outgoing and able to face my fear of talking to strangers. I’m proud that I’m doing this!” she says.

Another person who would be proud of Shannon is her dad. Though he’s only with her in spirit these days, she knows he’d love her business–and would have plenty of woodworking tips to share.

“He’d probably be telling me how to build the tables more efficiently,” she says with a laugh.

For more information on Picnics and Sunshine, visit picnicsandsunshine.com.

Lifestyle, diet and exercise play roles in bone health

By Jeff Blair

Opinion: When you think of your bones, you might think of a Halloween skeleton or an object hanging in a doctor’s office. In reality, our bone tissue is dynamic and a crucial component of overall health–especially after 50 years old. We often hear “bone density” discussions, but other important aspects of bone health exist, such as bone quality and microarchitecture. For simplicity, I am going to reference “bone health” rather than digging into the subparts of this important topic.

As kids, we add to our bones. This continues for most people until about age 25. From age 25 until sometime in our 40s, bone stays mostly stable. Sometime in our 40s, nearing 50, people tend to lose more bone than they add, and this is when bone can become a real health problem. Post-menopausal women tend to experience accelerated bone loss. Men also lose bone around middle age, but usually more gradually. These age ranges are a general guide and individual time frames can vary.

The most important areas for bone health are the low back (lumbar spine), hips and tops of the femurs

(thigh bone). If you have issues with bones in these areas, you can have problems moving and that can bring a host of health problems. Weak bones in these areas are also more prone to fracture. Fractures in these areas are a very serious problem for ongoing health. The fourth area of importance for bone health is the wrist. I always list the wrist last since even if you have a wrist issue, at least you can still move, walk and stay on your feet.

Genetics play a big role in bone health. Lifestyle and diet are also crucial for bone health. For example, smoking and excessive drinking can negatively impact bone health. Talk with your doctor if those are present in your life. Your doctor may also discuss pharmacological options. Beyond these factors, what else can be done to improve bone health?

The simple answer: remain physically active or become more physically active. Weight-bearing activities can have a positive impact on this area. However, some important nuances should be explained. Cardiovascular activities like swimming and cycling provide numerous health benefits. They are not generally good for bone density, though. Because they simply do not

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Thursdays | 10:00 - 11:30am

in-person at AMCS • $15/session Anna at ext. 244 & Helene at ext. 221

GROUP FACILITATORS SUPERVISED BY Stefani Roscoe, LCSW, CGP #60100

WOMEN’S PROCESS GROUPS

IN-PERSON

Wednesdays | 12 – 1:30pm

in-person at AMCS • $15/session

Milena at ext. 212 & Tara at ext. 249

VIRTUAL Wednesdays | 5:30 - 7pm via Zoom

• $15/session

Shimul at ext. 215 & Tara at ext. 249

GROUP FACILITATORS SUPERVISED BY Stefani Roscoe, LCSW, CGP #60100

EMERGING ADULTS:

NAVIGATING YOUR 20s

Thursdays | 5:00 - 6:30pm via Zoom

• $15/session

Helene at ext. 221 & Shimul at ext. 215

GROUP FACILITATORS SUPERVISED BY Stefani Roscoe, LCSW, CGP #60100

To join us for one of these educational therapy groups please call 310.670.1410

7891 La Tijera Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045 | www.AMCShelps.com

place enough load on the bones to help.

How about walking? Walking has been shown to carry some positive bone health benefits (especially if done along with strength training), but most experts would probably tell you walking alone does not put enough load on your legs to seriously improve bone health. Running can improve bone health, but many people (especially those in middle age and later) have orthopedic challenges such as knee issues which make running unrealistic.

The clear winner when it comes to the best bone health exercise is strength training. One reason strength training is superior to running for most people is strength training can be done incrementally and progressed gradually. A knowledgeable trainer can navigate through knee and low back issues and slowly increase the load on the bones through the lumbar spine, femur and hips. Runners tend to experience full impact on their joints from almost the first step and there isn’t a lot you can do to control that.

It is important to increase the weight you lift over time in order to give yourself the best chance to

maintain healthy bones. The activities of daily living can stress your bones more than you realize. A typical load of laundry can exceed 15 pounds. Carrying two full grocery bags means you are lugging 20 pounds from your car to your home. Build up to training with weights that put more resistance on your bones than you experience in your daily life. This does not mean you need to lift hundreds of pounds to get a benefit, but don’t be afraid of lifting somewhat heavier weights. Strength-training supervised by a knowledgeable personal trainer is much safer than almost any other sport or physical activity you could choose. If you have osteopenia or osteoporosis, please consult with your doctor about precautions and limitations around strength training and your individual situation.

Please have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Jeff Blair (MS, CSCS) is the founder of the SoCalSport and Fitness Personal Training Studio in Westchester. The studio has provided approximately 50,000 personal training sessions since 2011. Reach him at jeff@socalsport.com for questions or comments.

Westchester Lutheran church

Pastor, Larry Becker

JOIN US FOR WORSHIP SERVICE

SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 10:00 AM (INDOORS & LIVESTREAM)

SUNDAY, JULY 2

TRADITIONAL COMMUNION SERVICE

SUNDAY, JULY 9

PRAISE SERVICE

SUNDAY, JULY 16

TRADITIONAL COMMUNION SERVICE

SUNDAY, JULY 23

PRAISE SERVICE

SUNDAY, JULY 30

PRAISE SERVICE

WATCH THE SERVICE LIVE!

Westchester Lutheran church & school

The freedom to have fun

By Fay Craton

Opinion: During July, many of us enjoy freedom from our normal routines. It is time for family and friends to get together to enjoy BBQs and trips to the beach. Gardens are flowering and vegetables are being harvested. People head out of town for summer vacations. What do you envision when you consider the freedom of summertime? Do you envision fun? Hmm…vacations are something that are supposed to be fun and relaxing, but are frequently full of stress, conflict and communication issues. I have heard about many areas of conflict from my clients, and I have experienced them myself. Here are just four of the possibilities where difficulties can occur. Of course, there are more than can be addressed in this column!

Expectations: There are a lot of funny videos on the internet about expectations versus reality. It is easy to laugh when you are not the person caught in the distortion. On vacations, there are plenty of chances to be disappointed when what you expected is not what you are getting. When you are disappointed, what do you usually do? Some people turn their disappointment into hostility, while others will completely withdraw. Both reactions will probably ruin your fun and the enjoyment of everyone around you.

What are alternative behaviors for you to consider? First, pull yourself out of reacting to what you did not plan for, and instead, engage in a state of mind where you are able to consider the circumstances. Take a deep breath with an exhale twice as long as the inhale. This will help you think more clearly and help calm you. If you find you are still caught up in disappointment, work at letting go of past ideas where you anticipated a different outcome than you are experiencing. One way you can do this is by actively paying attention to details now in the physical world immediately around you. For example, touch the material on the chair you are sitting on. What does it feel like? Other ideas include focusing on how many colors you can identify in the room you are in or having something to eat and very consciously paying attention to every bite you take from it. The goal is to shift from the reactive part of your brain to the part of your brain where you can reason and think.

When you are no longer reactive to your expectations not being met, consider your options. Talk over your options with your travel companions. Make a plan to go forward. When going forward, do you want you and your loved ones happy, or do you want everyone to feel bad? Consider how your behaviors and words can make a difference.

Overspending: Disagreements about money can rapidly sour vacation time. Before booking your holiday, discuss a budget with everyone involved with the trip. If one person expects to unreservedly spend on whatever they want, and another person is worried about how much money is being spent and

the resulting debt, conflict is bound to result. Decisions about money can change where you vacation, or how long you will be away from home. By deciding ahead of time, as a group, how much you will spend on different aspects (such as restaurants, tours or shopping) you can avoid some bad feelings while you’re trying to have fun.

Anxiety and Fatigue: A number of people like to plan every minute during vacations. It gives them a sense of accomplishment and control. They can become anxious and fidgety when everything is not completely scheduled and preplanned. If they become very anxious, they might start pacing the hotel room and looking like they could jump out of their skin. Others need some quiet time to rest and renew between activities. They might need a break from sounds, smells and lights. Some might have a medical challenge that depletes their energy or gives them pain. Without the downtime they become physically and emotionally depleted–sometimes people even become sick. One group is not “right” and the other group is not “wrong.”

Before starting your vacation explore the following: What do you need? What do your travel partners need? What do your children need? This is an opportunity for the planners. Schedule downtime for those who need it. For those who want to keep going–plan activities alone knowing that your loved ones are getting the quiet and rest they need to enjoy the next outing you plan.

Inadequate communication: Clear, transparent communication is crucial in solid relationships. This is true whether on vacation or at any other time. Clearly describe your own needs and your own feelings. Allow time for others to share their needs and feelings. When sharing, carefully listen to what is being said. Are your needs more important than the happiness of your loved ones?

If so, please consider what you want from your significant relationships and friends. Each person is responsible for their own words, actions, thoughts and feelings. Relationships that work well result from people caring enough to modify their own behaviors sufficiently so significant others know you care about them. This means no one gets their own way all the time. However, with communication, you may find you and your loved one might be able to get needs met at the same time.

My wish is for you to have fun this summer. We all have the freedom to make this happen. Each one of us has freedom over our own thoughts, words and actions; how we use them makes a big difference in whether or not the stage is set for you and your loved one to have fun.

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). She has an office located in Westchester. If you have any questions, please contact Fay at (310) 645-6762.

WDRLL Closing Ceremony

JUNE 4 | NIELSEN PARK

On Sunday, June 4 the Westchester Del Rey Little League (WDRLL) celebrated the end of the 2023 softball and tee ball season with a closing ceremony full of festivities. With the league’s opening ceremony postponed numerous times in the spring due to the rainy weather, WDRLL was excited to bring its players, families, coaches and community together for a day of

food, fun and championship games. The event was also a chance to dedicate the recent creation of the Westchester Rotary Family Picnic area for all to enjoy.

During the ceremony, Pam Tomlinson was recognized as “Volunteer of the Year” for her dedication to youth sports.

The afternoon concluded with championship games for the Minor

and Major Divisions, with the Wildcats and Spartans winning the top spots in their divisions.

Pictured clockwise from top left:

1. Players cheer during the awards presentation.

2. WDRLL President Jim Evans poses with Volunteer of the Year, Pam Tomlinson.

3. Players show off their softballthemed paint designs.

4. Danny Garcia gets announced as the Minor Division All Star coach.

5. The WDRLL board gets a shoutout for their hard work during the season.

6. Rosie Martinez addresses the crowd.

7. Westchester Rotary past president, Tom Johnstone, celebrates the dedication of the field’s new picnic area with President Jim Evans.