Westchester/Playa HomeTown News November 2021 edition

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C O M M U N I T Y

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November 2021

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NONPROFITS TO SUPPORT AND WAYS TO GIVE BACK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON PAGE 4

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

This Month Brings You

help you prom help you prom nization or even l a c o L p o Sh ! n nization or even o s a e S y this Holida A look inside your HTN

Nonprofits to support and ways to give back New LAX parking option opens in Westchester Will you enjoy your family’s holiday gathering?

NCWP Community Update In Pictures: 2021 Playa Venice Cultural Dinner

04 07 21 24 26

HOMETOWN STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Stephanie Davis, Publisher

Jeff Blair, Contributing Writer Fay Craton, Contributing Writer

Lydia Smith, Contributing Writer Consuelo Israelson, Contributing Writer

Front page photos clockwise from top left: Volunteers help clear ice plant (photo courtesy the Bay Foundation); the community food pantry at the YMCA; a clean up event hosted by the Friends of Ballona Wetlands (photo courtesy the Friends); Westchester Rotarians volunteer at the Emerson Ave. Garden (photo by Lek Pollard) and volunteers help collect trash at a CLEAN UP Westchester event.

About The HomeTown News (HTN)

The HomeTown News is a monthly community newspaper dedicated to providing information about the people, events and happenings of Westchester, Playa del Rey, Marina del Rey and Playa Vista. Look for the HomeTown News the first Thursday of the month at your home or at one of our drop-off locations.

act us for rates and act us for rates and hesterhometo Connect with the HTN:

Mailing Address: 8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 110 #745 Westchester, CA 90045 • Email: westchesterhometown@yahoo.com • Website: thehtn.com • Facebook: facebook.com/thehtn • Instagram: instagram.com/thehometownnews The deadline for submissions is the 22nd of each month.

Now, more than ever, Westchester retailers and service providers need your help. Slammed by the pandemic, our small businesses need your help to survive.

Please make “Shop Local” your mantra for the 2021

hesterhometo holiday shopping season – it’s not just a slogan, it helps keep the businesses we love and the families they support alive!

us on Faceboo to-date with news and us on Faceboo Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

November 2021 • Page 3

Local nonprofits and organizations offer ways to volunteer, give back to community this holiday season

As our thoughts turn to the holidays and ways to give back, local nonprofits are inviting the community to get involved, donate and volunteer with their organizations.

We reached out to Westchester/ Playa nonprofits to learn about their upcoming projects and asked them to share how the neighborhood could support their efforts as we head into the holiday season.

Below is our round-up of local organizations offering volunteer opportunities and ways you can help make a positive impact on the community, whether you’re passionate about the environment, mental health, seniors or anything in-between. If you are feeling extra generous, make sure to visit these nonprofits’ websites and social media pages on Giving Tuesday (November 30) to donate to their worthwhile causes.

up to $1,500 in donations. The first week of the drive is sponsored by The Book Jewel.

And of course, WPV is always looking for passionate volunteers interested in supporting seniors.

Learn more at thewpv.org.

Help feed those in need at the Westchester Family YMCA.

The Westchester Family YMCA has always been a community hub with a variety of opportunities for people to get involved and be of service.

Since February, the Y has been hosting a weekly produce distribution event on Wednesdays for anyone in need through a partnership with FeedLA. In order to make the distribution of items like lettuce, fresh fruit, and a rotating selection of veggies, go quickly and smoothly, the Y is looking for volunteers to assist people with signing in and passing out bags. Volunteers are needed through the end of the year and can sign-up at ymcala.volunteermatters.org/ project-catalog/873 or by emailing JasonRamos@ymcaLA.org.

The distribution events are held on Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Y’s Annex, located at 8020 Alverstone St. in Westchester.

The Y is also looking for support for its Painted Pantry Project. The pantry, which is located in their parking lot, is stocked with readyto-eat snacks, drinks and shelf-stable food items available to all. The pantry is open 24/7 and is supported by the generosity of community members.

For those interested in donating to the pantry or volunteering to clean and restock items, please email John Sharpe at john@sharpeonline.com.

Submit your Makeover Project ideas to the Westchester Rotary Club to support a community space.

In September, the Westchester Rotary Club unveiled the more than $100,000 in upgrades and hundreds of volunteer hours its members contributed to the Emerson Avenue Community Garden as part of its Makeover Project, which happens every two years. Since COVID delayed their work at the garden, the club’s next large-scale project is scheduled for 2022, and they’re currently looking for ideas on a worthwhile location to transform!

The community is invited to submit suggestions for the club’s next big undertaking that embodies the spirit of Rotary and allows the group’s volunteers to roll up their sleeves and make a difference. In the past, the club has selected the Westchester Senior Center, local homes, the Westchester Townhouse and Venice’s Safe Place for Youth. Visit rotarywestchester.com for more info and to share your thoughts. Once the project is announced next year, volunteer opportunities will also be available.

Participate in Westside Pacific Villages fundraising drive to support seniors.

Westside Pacific Villages (WPV) has been adept at pivoting quickly throughout the pandemic and is always looking for ways to meet the needs of its members, so it’s no Page 4 • November 2021

Donate blood with the LAX Coastal Chamber.

From top: 1. Westchester Rotarians help beautify the Emerson Avenue Community Garden as part of their Makeover Project. Photo by Lek Pollard. 2. A volunteer helps with transportation at WPV. 3. The Y’s Food Pantry is open 24/7 for anyone in need.

surprise that more positive changes are coming to the Westchesterbased nonprofit focusing on helping seniors age in place. WPV recently announced that it has created a new membership fee structure to support even more local seniors after retiring its free WPV CARES COVID emergency response program. The new reduced fee for membership is now $250 per year, with monthly payment options available. WPV has also added a program to help

low-income seniors receive services, regardless of their ability to pay.

This month, WPV is hosting a fundraising drive with the goal to raise $12,000 to provide 50 seniors with a full year of its services, which include transportation to appointments, technology assistance, social support calls, friendly visits, helping with light chores and more.

During each week of their fundraising drive through the end of November, a sponsor has committed to matching

The LAX Coastal Chamber is hosting a blood drive this month in honor of one of its members. The community is invited to sign up for the Thursday, November 11 event by visiting cedarssinai.org/giveblood and using the group code BDKD. During the drive, the Cedars-Sinai bloodmobile will be located in the CVS parking lot at 8900 S. Sepulveda in Westchester from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donors should be in good health and must be at least 17-years-old to participate.

As an added bonus, donors will receive a coupon for a free pint of Baskin-Robbins ice cream or a limitededition T-shirt as a thank you. (continued on next page)

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

Giving back and volunteering (continued)

Bring canned goods to the Woman’s Club of Playa del Rey.

The Woman’s Club of Playa del Rey is hosting a holiday canned food drive to benefit Food Pantry LAX this month. Those interested in donating are asked to drop off their items on Saturday, November 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to the club’s parking lot, located at 8039 W. Manchester Ave in Playa del Rey. Thanksgiving dinner food items including canned ham, soup, packaged mashed potatoes, packaged pie crust and fillings, stuffing, cake mix and boxed macaroni and cheese are especially appreciated.

Email womansclubplayadelrey@ gmail.com with any questions or for more info.

Join The Bay Foundation in restoring the dunes.

For a unique volunteer opportunity with a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean, volunteer with The Bay Foundation (TBF) for their monthly restoration event at the LAX Dunes.

Since 2015, The Bay Foundation, Friends of the LAX Dunes and Los Angeles World Airports, along with thousands of volunteers have worked to restore, enhance and protect this special habitat. Participants must

Left to right: 1. Volunteers help TBF remove invasive plants during a community restoration day event. Photo courtesy TBF. 2. A member of Silicon Beach Social promotes their canned food drive with the Woman’s Club of Playa del Rey during the holidays last year. Photo courtesy SBS.

RSVP at santamonicabay.org/events to participate and this volunteer opportunity is currently capped at 30 people. TBF is also hosting a Ballona Wetlands Community Restoration event on November 10 to help remove invasive plants and non-native vegetation in the wetlands.

Help Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary provide a nice holiday season for families in need.

The holidays are the best time of the year for the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club, and they have a full schedule of giving back activities planned for November and December.

The club, which meets at

Whiskey Red’s in Marina del Rey on Wednesday mornings, is getting ready for its annual Adopt-A-Family program, which will provide 10 families from the Mar Vista Family Center and the Boys & Girls Club of Venice with a special holiday season. The program will kick-off on November 17, and thanks to their members and the support of the community, the families will be provided holiday gifts, food, household items and other treats.

Community members are welcome to contribute to the program by contacting Adopt-A-Family chair, Kristen Hemanes at kristen@ glennsdesigns.com.

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

The club also hosts the annual Westchester/Playa Santa Tour, which will take place on Monday, December 13. During the event, Santa, accompanied by LAFD and local volunteers, will make his way through the community and make stops at 5 locations. Each location will be staffed with volunteers who will be handing out treats, and helping Santa pose for photos with attendees.

Stayed tuned for the locations in next month’s edition. For more info on the Santa Tour, please email gvuchsas@secoteam.com.

Visit playavenice.org to learn more about the club’s upcoming projects. (continued on page 14)

November 2021 • Page 5

Business & Nonprofit News

TheHTN.com

Westchester’s newest mural pays homage to an old 7-Eleven jingle, while giving a shout out to the neighborhood. The Instagram-worthy spot is already proving a hit with locals and tourists alike who stop by the location on Sepulveda across from In-N-Out.

Gateway to LA to host annual Holiday Concert and LAPD Toy Drive.

Reservations are now open for the 17th Annual Holiday Concert hosted by the Gateway to LA Business Improvement District. This year’s concert is scheduled for November 23 at 11:30 a.m. at the LAX Marriott Hotel. Guests will be treated to an hour of holiday music courtesy of the award-winning Angel City Chorale—a Page 6 • November 2021

Photo by Zsuzsi Steiner.

New mural pops up in Westchester.

Community members were on hand to celebrate the grand opening of Westchester’s newest 7-Eleven and latest mural on October 5.

In addition to the regular 7-Eleven offerings like Slurpees, snacks, hot dogs and a coffee bar, the new Westchester location features a more than 100-foot mural on its southern wall. The colorful artwork features a giant parrot and hummingbird with the shout-out to the neighborhood, “Oh Thank Heaven for Westchester” a nod to one of the convenience store’s memorable slogans. The mural was created by local artist Ernest Doty who is known for his bold, distinctive style often featuring birds. The mural is part of 7-Eleven’s recent efforts to help beautify their locations and support the arts by teaming up with creative agency, the Ammersion Group, to bring neighborhood-specific murals to stores.

7-Eleven Westchester is located at 9210 S. Sepulveda Blvd.

On October 21, the winners of the HomeTown News’ Second Annual Pet Photo Contest in partnership with Wallis Annenberg PetSpace visited the location for a group photo and to pick up their prize baskets filled with goodies for their four-legged family members! Located in Playa Vista, PetSpace is not your typical pet adoption center. The unique community space offers monthly education opportunities and a robust schedule of events, which focus on the bond between people and their pets. This month, PetSpace will host a Young at Heart Pet Adoption event on Saturday, November 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in honor of “Adopt a Senior Pet Month.” Learn more at annenbergpetspace.org. Pictured from left to right: Annenberg PetSpace Executive Director Gabrielle Amster; Juanfra Rodriguez with Horchata; Joan Kane with Maxwell and Michelle Navarro with Norman.

multi-generational, multi-cultural musical group that was featured on America’s Got Talent—and lunch.

Guests are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the LAPD Toy Drive and donors will be entered into a prize drawing at the event.

Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Westchester Family YMCA, Airport Marina Counseling Service and EmpowerTech. Space is limited and tickets are $500 for a table of six.

For more information and to RSVP, please call (310) 216-7328.

Silicon Beach Social readies for Comedy and Cocktails event in Playa del Rey. The community is invited to attend a Comedy and Cocktails event on Saturday, November 13.

The event will feature comedians seen on Comedy Central, Netflix and HBO, including Greg Fitzsimmons, Nicole Aimee Schreiber and Garrick Bernard who will be performing at the Women’s Club of Playa del Rey, located at 8039 W. Manchester Ave. in Playa del Rey. The comedy show starts at 7 p.m. and food and drinks will be available for purchase. The event is hosted

by Silicon Beach Social, a club that combines making friends and doing good through “FUNraising.” A portion of the night’s proceeds will benefit B.R.I.D.G.E., a nonprofit that focuses on equality in education and mental health resources. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased via eventbrite.com Bit.ly/SBScomedyandcocktails. (continued on next page)

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

Photo courtesy LAWA.

A shuttle waits to transport visitors to LAX during the grand opening of the airport’s Economy Parking Lot located off Westchester Parkway and Jetway Blvd.

(continued from previous page) LAX unveils new state-of-theart parking lot for travelers in Westchester.

Parking at LAX is getting easier, thanks to the airport’s new Economy Parking Lot that opened to the public on October 15. The state-of-the art $294 million parking structure is the first major component of LAX’s Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP) to be completed.

The lot, which is located at Westchester Parkway and Jetway Blvd. in Westchester is four-stories and features 4,300 new parking stalls. The 1.7 million-squarefoot facility is loaded with smart parking technology to streamline the experience with parking space indicators, electric vehicle charging stations and a parking guidance system.

Travelers are encouraged to utilize LAX’s new online parking reservation system to pre-book their parking spot. The drive-up rate is $25 per day to park, but discounts up to 60 percent are currently being offered on pre-booked rates. While the online reservation system will guarantee a parking spot, guests can make free changes and cancellations to their reservations. Valet parking options are expected to be added in the future.

Once at the lot, a 24/7 shuttle bus will transport travelers between the facility and LAX, with an estimated

travel time of five minutes to LAX’s Central Terminal area. Shuttles are anticipated to run every five to seven minutes.

To learn more and to reserve parking, visit parking.flylax.com.

Shop local at upcoming holiday boutiques.

St. Jerome Parish will hold their annual Holiday Crafts Fair on Saturday, November 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, November 21 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature handmade holiday gifts and items, holiday music, raffles and food available for purchase. There is no entrance fee and plenty of free parking is available.

St. Jerome Parish is located at 5550 Thornburn Street in Westchester.

The Women’s Club of Playa del Rey will host a holiday boutique on Saturday, November 20 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The boutique will feature handcrafted, homemade and home baked treasures and treats. A raffle at the event will benefit the club’s scholarship fund for local students.

The boutique will be held in the parking lot behind the Women’s Club at 8039 W. Manchester Ave. in Playa del Rey. For more info, visit wcpdr.org.

Have info to share about your business or nonprofit? Email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com for a chance to be featured.

Robert Milligan, Partner Business, Intellectual Property and Employment Counseling & Litigation (310) 201-1579 rmilligan@seyfarth.com

AUTUMN CROPS

Happy fall y'all! Join us in supporting local families in need, accepting food bank donations. Swing by the info booth to drop off canned goods or to make a cash donation. All funds go to purchase fresh veggies from our farmers to be donated directly to Food Pantry LAX, we're up to 1000 pounds and going strong!

FOLLOW US FOR UPDATES!

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

November 2021 • Page 7

SCENE EXPLORING PLAYA VISTA’S FOOD SCENE

Our Top 3 Must Try PV Eateries When it comes to ordering in or dining out in Playa Vista, there’s no shortage of restaurants to try, no matter what you’re in the mood for! As longtime Playa Vista residents, we know our community inside and out, and we’ve tried them all!

Here are our picks for the Playa Vista eateries that can’t be missed!

1

Hopdoddy

When a burger is what you’re craving, head on down to Runway’s Hopdoddy Burger Bar. This local hotspot is a favorite with families, and we love how easy it is to grab a couple burgers for the kids while getting our fill, too! And when you’re not feeling like burgers, they have some amazing chicken options on the menu as well. While you’re there, check out their full bar and amazing shakes for those special occasions.

Photo courtesy Hopdoddy.

2

Bull & Butterfly

Bull & Butterfly has emerged as a Playa Vista go-to for brunch, dinner and even happy hour! There’s no bad time to stop in for some top-notch fare, and when the time is right they can create a specialty cocktail to go along with it. Kids are of course welcome, but we recommend saving this one for your date night. The filet and rib eye are can’t miss, and you must try the Ahi Tuna Tostada–it’s AMAZING!

3

Joliet

Sometimes you need a little extra vibe to go along with your meal, and that’s where Joliet shines! They always seem to be open, as they offer coffee, lunch, dinner, cocktails and brunch on Sundays, and you can enjoy your time on their outdoor patio, belly up to the bar or relax in the “speakeasy.” Full disclosure: we have done coffee in the morning, a light lunch with their fresh and turkey sandwich made to order, and then come back for late night drinks–all in the same day! Joliet and Playa Vista were definitely made for each other!

All places are located at RUNWAY Playa Vista at 12746 W. Jefferson Blvd. in Playa Vista.

DRE# 01972897 Page 8 • November 2021

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

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

November 2021 • Page 9

By Cozette Vergari

a grand dance floor surrounding the lagoon. Today, we know this as the Playa del Rey Lagoon. The structures were designed and built in an Asian influenced Craftsman motif and opened on Thanksgiving Day 1904, the same year the resort received its own post office. Playa del Rey was promoted as the “The King’s Beach.”

We see Sherman and Clark’s Los Angeles Pacific Railway Company is also building the $200,000 Del Rey Hotel with 50 guest rooms nearby with a grandstand overlooking a boat racing course. A bridge is constructed over the mouth of the lagoon–at the ocean’s entrance–with a 1,200-foot fishing pier also nearby. Boat racing is becoming extremely popular. Boardwalks are being constructed and Playa del Rey flourishes as a resort town from 1902 to 1913. However, as we stop to visit the resort in 1913, we witness a fire which ultimately destroys the entire resort, including the Playa del Rey Pavilion and the Del Rey Hotel. Once again, stayed tuned for our continuing time machine travel.

In the meantime, visit the Westchester/Playa Historical Society Discovery Center in the Westchester Triangle, open on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or by appointment. Learn more at wphistoricalsociety.org.

Cozette is an attorney and lifelong resident of Westchester. She is the President of the Westchester/Playa Historical Society. Together with a group of dedicated volunteers, the organization is working on creating new programming and events to celebrate the history of the area and engage the community in preserving it for future generations.

For those of you who have joined my time travel machine journey the last couple of months, we are again jumping on board. Standing in the midst of today’s Westchester/Playa community, our travels initially took us all the way back to 65,000 BCE. As we traveled forward, we witnessed evidence of human settlement on the islands off the coast of Southern California circa 12,000 BCE and saw the excavation of the skull of the Los Angeles Man, carbon dated back to 8,000 BCE. We saluted to three nations’ flags, Spain, Mexico and the United States, over a span of the 300 years leading up to statehood in 1850, while along the way meeting various indigenous villages and tribes.

Our time machine has been waiting patiently to resume the travel forward toward the future land development of the area. As we begin, we are now looking at the beginnings of the development of the lagoon and wetlands of what we now know as Playa del Rey. We are being introduced in 1871 to Will Tell, who is giving us a tour of his lodge that sits at the edge of the lagoon, where Ballona Creek empties into the Pacific Ocean. His guests at the lodge are primarily fisherman and hunters. As we move forward to 1884, a storm completely wipes out his small resort. He chooses not to rebuild.

Again, we are on the move, moving forward to 1902, when Henry Barbour of the Beach Land Company purchases 1,000 acres of land in the same area we now know as Playa del Rey. Barbour is announcing his plans to build a large resort, knowing the Pacific Electric Railway red car system will connect the downtown Los Angeles area with beach cities from Venice, just steps north from his 1,000 acres, and south to the Redondo Beach area. He succeeds in opening an impressive three-story pavilion with a restaurant and dining rooms, bowling alleys and

Top photo at left: A view of the boardwalk in front of the Playa Del Rey Pavilion. The pagoda-style pavilion is on the left of the image and towers over the wooden boardwalk below. Notice the many tourists crowding the boardwalk, down from Los Angeles on the Balloon Trolley trip. The Del Rey Hotel is visible in the background on the right. Middle and bottom photo: Views of Playa del Rey circa the early 1900s.

YOU CAN HELP! FOOD PANTRY, LAX

Emergency Food Distribution to those in need.

Sponsored by the Westchester Clergy Association

Open Tuesday & Friday, 10am-12pm 355 Beach St., Inglewood

Bring donations of non-perishable food to Covenant Presbyterian Chuch. Volunteers and money donations also welcomed and encouraged!

For more information, please call (310) 677-5597 Ad donated by the Covenant Presbyterian Church

Page 10 • November 2021

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

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

November 2021 • Page 11

Westchester Eagle Scout Project makes beautification upgrades at Centinela Adobe The Centinela Adobe is celebrating the completion of a beautification project, thanks to Westchester Boy Scout Mark Picard. Picard, who is a scout with Troop 716, selected the adobe, the area’s oldest home, after looking for a location for his Eagle Scout Project. Since the adobe is located in his Osage neighborhood and he often passes by while enjoying walking and running on the street, he contacted Diane Sambrano, who is the president of the Centinela Valley Historical Society. After making a formal presentation to the board this summer, he received approval for his project. Using funds raised through his troop’s annual Christmas wreath fundraiser, Mark was able to buy the supplies for the project. He also received a donation of gravel from Greg Wiacek, father of Joseph Wiacek, who earned his Eagle rank in 2020.

During the project, Mark led a team of scouts and adult volunteers at four different workstations to complete a variety of tasks including staining a bench for the back porch, cleaning and landscaping work to

Mark shows off one of the Adobe’s newly stained benches.

create a new display for the Adobe’s old plough, making a new gravel path on the south side of the Adobe and trimmings plants and trees in front of the house. After the project was

delayed because of the pandemic, it felt great to complete the improvements outside the historical home, even with extra safety precautions and social distancing!

Mark is a lifelong Westchester resident. He attended St. Anastasia School and is currently a senior at Loyola High School.

He began scouting as a member of Cub Scout pack 824, in first through fifth grades, and then became a member of Troop 716 in middle school. He also played AYSO soccer in Westchester from kindergarten through eighth grade. He has been active in theater productions both at St. Anastasia and at Loyola High School and hopes to major in theater when he goes to college.

Mark extends his gratitude to his Scoutmaster, Zack Guerra, and the 15 scouts and volunteers who came to help with his Eagle Scout Project.

The Centinela Adobe is now open once again for tours every Sunday afternoon between 2 to 4 p.m. It is located at 7634 Midfield Avenue in Westchester.

Troop 716 currently holds meetings on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Glen Alla Park in Marina del Rey. Those interested in visiting or joining the troop can learn more by contacting troop716bsa@gmail.com.

Caring & Comfortable Dentistry

SATURDAY 20th NOVEMBER

8 AM - 3 PM

AT WOMAN’S CLUB OF PLAYA DEL REY REAR PARKING LOT 8039 W. MANCHESTER AVE., PLAYA DEL REY

A very exciting one day shopping event of handcrafted, homemade, home baked and one of a kind treasures made by local talent!

Plus Canned Food Drive for LAX Pantry, Food Trucks and Opportunity Drawing!

Dr. Michael Parsons

- In Westchester Since 1981 -

(310) 670-0902 Welcome to our beautiful new state of the art office near LAX 8930 S. Sepulveda Blvd., #210 Los Angeles, 90045

Thank you to our Gold Level Sponsor:

Free Parking Page 12 • November 2021

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

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

November 2021 • Page 13

Giving back (cont’d)

Guild members Linda Peterson and Janie Guthrie pose with holiday decorations to promote the Holiday Lights Tour & Contest, which raises money for AMCS.

(continued from page 5)

Raise money for mental health with the Westchester Mental Health Guild.

Homeowners who routinely go all out to decorate their homes and yards for the holidays, might want to consider volunteering to participate in the Second Annual Holiday Lights Tour & Contest, sponsored by the Westchester Mental Health Guild.

The event, which is being held in lieu of their traditional Holiday Home Tour, will help raise money for AMCS’ mental health programs.

As an added incentive for community members to participate, prizes will be awarded for the homes that win Best Theme, Best Lights, Most Whimsical and Fan Favorite.

To enter your home in the tour, participants are asked to complete an application that can be found on the Guild’s website at westchestermhg.org, no later than Wednesday, December 1. Participants are also asked to make a donation of at least $25. The event will take place December 12 through December 20. A map of participating homes and the ability to vote for your favorite decorations will be available for a donation of $10 per carload after December 1.

The Westchester Mental Health Guild is an organization that supports Airport Marina Counseling Service through fundraising. The Guild holds a variety of activities throughout the year, including Taco Nights and events currently held via Zoom.

Beautify PdR with the Friends of Ballona Wetlands.

Volunteers are needed for The Friends of Ballona Wetlands’ Third Annual United Ballona Creek Cleanup on Saturday, November 13 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Volunteers of all ages are invited to help tackle the trash that ends up in the creek after the first rains of the fall.

During the event, volunteers will collect trash from the north and south side of the creek to help create a beautiful and clean environment for the animals that live there.

The Friends of Ballona Wetlands hold a variety of educational and clean-up events each month, so there are plenty of opportunities to help support their mission to protect Playa Page 14 • November 2021

del Rey’s wetlands, while educating the community.

For more information and to RSVP, visit ballonafriends.org/calendar/ united/2021.

If you’ve been thinking of selling, now could be the time to make a move.

Looking to trade up or trade out?

Call me, let’s discuss.

CLEAN UP Westchester with your neighbors.

Clean UP Westchester is having a big impact when it comes to beautifying neighborhood streets, and community members of all ages are invited to help in their monthly efforts.

Led by organizer Grant Francis, the clean up days are now drawing dozens of volunteers armed with garbage bags and trash pickers determined to help make Westchester shine. To add to the camaraderie and the fun, volunteers are provided with a special T-shirt to wear to show their Westchester pride.

The next clean-up day is scheduled for November 20 and will focus on the area around IHOP. Contact Grant at granttfrancis@ gmail.com for more info and to volunteer.

Amy Frelinger DRE# 01484711

O 424.281.7603 M 310.951.0416 amy.frelinger@elliman.com

Donate to support AMCS’ mission to provide mental health services.

For more than 50 years, AMCS has provided vital mental health services to the community, and the pandemic has made their mission all the more critical for people who are looking to gain skills to cope with this difficult time or dealing with mental health issues.

While the clinic has been closed to in-person clients since March of 2020, the need for their virtual services has increased, and for the first-time in their history, AMCS has a wait list for therapy. Thanks to generous donors, grants and their major fundraiser—a spring gala—AMCS continues to thrive and offer hope to those in need.

When the clinic reopens for in-person individual and group therapy early next year, clients will enjoy updated furniture, fresh paint and new decor thanks in part to a donation from the Ahmanson Foundation.

Visit their website at amcshelps. com to learn how AMCS is making an impact and consider donating to support their programs. A donation of $100 provides six art therapy sessions for troubled youth and their families.

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

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

November 2021 • Page 15

Art Show & Competition looks for Community Support.

The LAX Coastal Education Foundation is readying for its upcoming fundraiser, a second annual Art Show and Competition scheduled for the spring. Nineteen K-12 schools will participate in the event, where students will create art around the theme, “What I love about my school.” The winning pieces of art from each school will be displayed in the Westchester area for people to view. The artwork will then be judged by community leaders and the top three artists in each age categories will win prizes.

The money raised through sponsorships and donations will go back to schools via grants. For more information about supporting this event, please email info@ laxcoastaledfoundation.com and visit laxcef.org to learn more about the foundation.

Spotlight on WISH Community School.

The award-winning WISH Community School–serving students in TK through eighth grades– is excited for another great school year in Westchester! Its students, faculty and staff are excited to be back on campus and enjoying the experience of creating educational excellence in person, both indoors and outdoors. For administrators and teachers, it has been awesome to see the giant LEGO houses, catapults, and inventions as students begin to engage in the design thinking process. Students have been filling each other’s buckets with kindness and building friendships throughout these first few weeks of school, while also growing their social-emotional skills through classroom community lessons. They are also thrilled to be back to their on-campus traditions, celebrating students and educators at awards assemblies, honor roll, student

Page 16 • November 2021

A student admires his artwork in the Westchester Triangle during the Art Show and Competition held in March. The LAX Coastal Education Foundation is currently looking for sponsors for their 2022 event, which raises funds for art programs at local schools.

council, academic competition teams, robotics teams, sports and student socials! To date, the school is achieving 98 percent attendance and continues to drive deep engagement with students and families.

All students at WISH benefit from Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) instructional strategies used in all classes. Students also are highly engaged in STEM activities through the Launch and Gateway programs of Project Lead the Way. Along with core curriculum subjects, all students participate in art, music, movement, gardening and library time. In addition, every student experiences integrated technology which includes digital citizenship, coding and game design!

For WISH’s younger students in TK through fifth grade, each child participates in weekly music, art, movement, technology, library and garden classes as part of the school’s “whole child approach.”

These classes are led by specialists

in their field. They also have exciting extracurricular club offerings after school, such as Student Council and a Kindness Club.

For older scholars in sixth through eighth grade, students have the opportunity to experience math and English through honors and highly accelerated pathways that extend through eighth grade and into WISH Academy High School for highly gifted pupils. WISH’s specialty class offerings expand broadly in middle school, as students are able to select how they would like to experience these classes through a variety of electives including theater, strings, honors strings, digital composition, survival arts, sports conditioning and much more.

In addition to rigorous academics, WISH is committed to supporting the scholar’s social-emotional learning and development. They are in their fifth year of implementing the R.U.L.E.R. program from Yale’s Center for Emotional Intelligence,

and they report they are experiencing great success with identifying feelings, values and the kind of community members they want to be at school.

WISH students continue to love their clubs and sports teams. From Model United Nations, Crochet Club and Anime Club to basketball, volleyball and track, the mighty WISH Owls have the opportunity to provide many “hoot hoot hoorays.”

They also offer a variety of groups for students to get connected through various leadership opportunities such as Student Council, Student Leadership, Robotics, Where Everybody Belongs (WEB), Student Ambassadors, Humans United and Kindness Club.

In addition to the more than 700 students that are part of the WISH Community family, WISH also serves as a professional development school for LMU’s school of education and educators from around the world.

Over the past few years, WISH has hosted visitors from all over California, 26 states and 12 countries.

WISH is hosting tours next month on December 1 for grades K-5 and on December 2 for grades 6-8. Learn more and RSVP at wishcharter.org/ apply.

Join the NCWP’s Ed Committee for their monthly meetings.

Join the Neighborhood Council’s Education Committee at their monthly meeting discussing local education. The meetings are held the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Topics generally include a spotlight on schools and announcements and updates on what’s going on at local campuses.

The group also serves as a place for those passionate about education to collaborate, network and brainstorm.

For more information on upcoming meetings and agendas, please visit ncwpdr.org/education.

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

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

November 2021 • Page 17

Gluten free: is it meant to be?

By Sheri Weitz, RDN, CDCES Contributing Columnist

Opinion: Going gluten free almost 20 years ago changed my life and restored my health. I feel better now than in my 20s, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for everyone.

Numerous misconceptions surround gluten. Two decades ago, it wasn’t chic or trendy to be gluten free.

Nowadays, the gluten free industry is a huge money maker, but a lot of confusion has been created along with that dough.

What is gluten? Gluten is the protein component of wheat, rye and barley. Oats are inherently gluten free, but are sometimes contaminated with gluten through contact, so it’s best to buy oats which say “gluten free” if you’re sensitive. Common dietary sources of gluten are bread, pizza, flour tortillas, crackers and pancakes. Many products that contain wheat or gluten which we don’t think about are foods such as soy sauce, soups, gravies, imitation crab and beer.

What is Celiac disease? Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune condition affecting less than one percent of the population. Persons suffering with this disorder cannot even tolerate trace amounts of gluten. Some are so sensitive that just brushing against someone who has touched gluten can set off a reaction.

It often leads to gastrointestinal side effects, but some symptoms are unrelated to the gut, such as anemia.

Is Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity a real disorder? When I went gluten free, my family and friends questioned me, saying it was “all in my head.” Having suffered with low back pain, swollen feet, hair loss, weakness spells during which I couldn’t lift my arms, and elevated liver enzymes, I discovered that I needed to avoid gluten. Going gluten free was life changing, as if a fog had been lifted from my brain. I was seeing the world in technicolor clarity, experiencing movies and conversations with astonishing detail. The doctor had performed an intestinal biopsy and blood test before I went gluten free, which were both negative for celiac disease. But I was so sick!

Later, when I decided to get a stateof-the-art blood test for “Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity” (NCGS), it

Page 18 • November 2021

confirmed what I knew: I had numerous antibodies to wheat and gluten coursing through my blood stream.

I felt so much better once I got off gluten, but having it “in writing” was so validating.

Harvard University, Celiac.org and others now recognize gluten sensitivity as a medical disorder, but can’t agree on how best to test for it. In the patients for whom I’ve ordered blood tests, about 40 percent show antibodies against gluten and wheat, and only a very small percentage tested positive for celiac disease.

One patient in her 20s suffered from psoriatic arthritis. She couldn’t take her immunosuppressant meds due to severe side effects, one being that she had developed swelling in her brain.

She tested positive for NCGS (but negative for celiac), completely went off gluten, and now feels healthy.

What are symptoms of Celiac and Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity? How do you know if you have issues with gluten? Symptoms can be anything from stomach upset to headaches, brain fog, painful joints, fatigue, numbness in the hands or feet, hair loss, hypothyroidism, psoriasis, anemia, rheumatoid arthritis and more.

If you want to avoid getting a blood test, you can try and avoid gluten for six weeks to three months to see how you feel, but it’s tough to maintain the motivation to completely avoid gluten (not even one bite!) without getting tested.

If you can avoid the deprivation of a gluten free lifestyle, that is the way to go. If you’re not sensitive to gluten or don’t have celiac disease, it is not necessarily healthier to go gluten free. Whole grains are a good source of fiber, vitamins and minerals, not to mention that they add so much joy to life. But for those of us who need to avoid gluten to be healthy–or just lift our arms in the air–gluten free is meant to be!

I’ll never forget standing in front of the gluten free baked goods section at Whole Foods when it first opened several years ago. I literally started crying in the aisle. That’s what living more than a decade without choices will do. Thankfully, being gluten free is so much better now, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Are you curious about gluten sensitivity? Or maybe you’re having

gut or autoimmune symptoms, and you’re ready to try the “not even one bite” test to see if you improve without a blood test? If you’re committed to living a gluten free lifestyle, I commend you for your dedication to your health. But let’s face it, it takes determination.

Shopping gluten free If a packaged food contains the statement “gluten free,” you’re on easy street. In order for labels to state this, a product must contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. Most packaged foods have labels which state at the end of the ingredients: “Contains wheat or soy, etc.” This is the shortcut to bypass the clutter on the label: go straight to the allergen disclosure–except that sometimes it doesn’t mention this!

Manufacturers have a choice whether to list allergens. In this case, or if it doesn’t say “gluten free,” then “plan C” is to look for recognizable glutencontaining ingredients. Usually it’s wheat, but occasionally, gluten may be in the form of barley, rye or non-GF oats. If in doubt, research it, contact the manufacturer, or don’t buy it.

Some GF foods, such as GF pretzels, may have corn starch as their primary ingredient. Corn starch is great for baby powder, or even for thickening up a food, but it’s not meant to be eaten in large quantities.

Look for whole grain GF ingredients such as brown rice, millet, or even tapioca instead.

For a non-grain alternative for those sensitive to grains, cassava is

a wonderful substitute. Trader Joe’s cassava tortillas are soft and delicious and completely grain free. They’re my newest “love!”

Gluten free on the road Keep gluten free snacks with you, such as freeze-dried sugar snap peas, protein bars, nuts or dried fruit.

Airports are beginning to stock a few more GF options, but they can be few and far between. One of my airport go-tos is Starbucks. They have gluten free sous vide egg bites, and the ones with kale and portabella mushrooms will give you that “I just ate vegetables” glow. My family and I recently traveled to Vermont, and I was so excited–and surprised–when they sold GF crepes at the Burlington airport!

Of course, my son (who is also gluten free) and I just had to order them. On the receipt, I happened to notice written in red print “gluten allergy” for the savory crepe, but underneath the apple one, it didn’t have the same warning. I questioned them, and they remade it. My motto is always ask before eating. Busy cooks and servers can make innocent mistakes.

Dining out gluten free This is where it gets tricky and often socially awkward. What a buzz kill to ask questions about ingredients when you’re out with friends or on a date. To avoid this dilemma, try calling the restaurant ahead of time to speak to a manager or chef. You could even step away from the table and ask for a manager and explain your situation—either that you’re allergic to gluten or have celiac disease– to make sure they understand. When the item is served to you, always ask: “Is this gluten free?” yet another time.

Some restaurants, especially chain restaurants mark items as GF with a symbol on the menu. Some have designated gluten free menus. I love those restaurants! Bless them for making our lives so much easier.

If you dine out, there is a possibility of incidental gluten exposure, especially from contact contamination (sharing a fryer, etc.).

(Continued on page 22) *Editor’s note: This is part 1 and part 2 of the article, “Gluten free..is it meant to be?” Part 1 of this article ran in our August edition.

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

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November 2021 • Page 19

Random Notes/Opinion

TheHTN.com

Fitness survival during the holidays

2. Do not throw in the towel on healthy nutrition. I do my best to keep my place stocked with fruits Opinion: Believe it or not, and vegetables, lean proteins and Thanksgiving is just around the drink plenty of water. I try to eat a corner. Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season for many of us, and the healthy breakfast and lunch every day even if I am going to a party at end of the year can be the toughest time to keep up with fitness routines. night. Maintaining that solid nutrition environment helps, but the struggle While Thanksgiving is still a few can still be real. While I do not think weeks away, having a fitness game plan can help you navigate November the holidays would be the same and December. Here are five tips that without my sister’s holiday candy, can help you succeed during the last I try to limit that to late December.

At times in the past, it has been a two months of the year.

1. Keep your physical activity level little too easy for me to start holiday as consistent as possible. If you are celebrating in late November and not slow down until the New Year currently physically active, do your has started. I do my best to adopt the best to maintain that activity as the mindset that the holidays are just a holidays begin. Family trips, office parties and other seasonal events can few days and a few celebrations every year rather than six weeks of non-stop throw you off your schedule. Try to stick with your regular schedule even partying.

3. Look for small ways to succeed. if that means a little juggling of your While I encourage you to maintain time. If you normally work out in regular workouts as much as possible, the evening, but you must attend an also look for less structured ways to office party, consider working out in maintain physical activity. the morning that day. Although the Squeeze in walks on your lunch time working out might vary, try to break. Plan a hike on the weekend maintain the same number of weekly workouts. with friends or family members. Take

By Jeff Blair

an unplanned class at your gym. If you have the chance to exercise, take it! Do not worry too much whether it is a great workout, but simply look for small ways to increase physical activity. These small opportunities add up over time.

4. Look for support. I can never overstate how important it is to have friends or family members who support your fitness journey.

The holidays are no different. If you have a friend you can meet for a bike ride, you are more likely to maintain physical activity levels.

Personal trainers and other fitness professionals can also provide support and encouragement. The holidays are a time when most media and other messaging are not promoting health and fitness habits. Anyone who helps us maintain a bit of consistency and moderation can make a positive difference in our lives.

5. Enjoy yourself. People often ask me if I “cheat” on my nutrition during the holidays. I do enjoy some excellent holiday meals and treats. I just do not think of it as cheating. Do not feel guilty as you partake in some

special meals and parties with family and friends during these coming weeks. Fitness should enrich your quality of life rather than serve as a deprivation exercise. I simply try to maintain a bit of moderation along the way. I feel better physically that way while still enjoying plenty of holiday fun.

Striking the balance between partaking in holiday treats without going overboard can be a challenge, but I am always glad I made the effort when the New Year rolls around. As always, do the best you can and do not get discouraged. Small, consistent changes done over a period of time can create dramatic and positive results. Those results can increase your health, happiness and quality of life. Making a time investment in exercise always pays a very high return.

Jeff Blair (MS, CSCS) founded the SoCalSport Personal Training Studio in Westchester in 2011. He is also an author and has been a certified personal trainer for over 20 years.

Reach out for story comments or suggestions at jeff@socalsport.com.

5 pm - 6:30 pm virtually via Zoom To register or for additional information, contact Airport Marina Counseling Service 310.670.1410 Morgan x179 / mfaulkner@amcshelps.com or Lexi Berard x237 / lberard@amcshelps.com $15/session

Stefani Roscoe, LCSW, CGP #60100

Page 20 • November 2021

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

Will you enjoy your family’s holiday gathering?

By Fay Craton Opinion: It is that time of year when we plan for the year-end holidays. Halloween has come and gone, and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Even with the continued pandemic, families are cautiously exploring holiday gettogethers. Gathering with loved ones is important–even if some relatives can be annoying. Sometimes, before attending family events, it is beneficial to take a personal inventory about why you are attending, your coping skills, and to consider viewing irritation from a fresh perspective.

Why are you going to your family function? Is it something you want to attend or not? If you want to attend it, great. However, you may be among the people who do not look forward to group functions. The reasons can be varied. There could be too much drama; perhaps you feel you do not deserve to be with your family or maybe there is too much noise, activity or the energy of the gathering is more than you can easily tolerate. Is it hard for you to talk about why you do not enjoy attending family and/or group gatherings? Understanding the “why” is important. I encourage you to take some alone time to define what makes it difficult for you to attend.

Once you have an understanding about the why, you can begin creating a plan to help you cope. In the past, what has been successful to help you enjoyably navigate the day? Do you have healthy coping skills which are difficult to remember when you are stressed? Think about what has been successful in the past before you go to the event. You may wish to write past successes down on a piece of paper or on the notepad of your phone to read to yourself while at the event. In this way you will get a pause from the stressor when you read the note, and a reminder as to what you can do to navigate the situation in a healthy manner.

When thinking about past gatherings, are they too hard or painful to think about? It can be really hard to look forward to a family get-together when there is an ongoing history of discomfort. It could be that the healthiest path for you is to make only a short appearance or to not attend the event. It is okay for you to take care of yourself. If you decide not to attend, I encourage you to make enjoyable alternative plans during the same timeframe of the gathering. You do not want to be sitting at home dwelling about your family. Be sure to create a pleasant memory for the day.

Are you still planning to attend, but are uncertain about healthy coping skills? Here are some suggestions you might wish to consider: • If there is too much drama, consider what is behind the trauma.

Sometimes people create drama because they are feeling controlled, bored or disconnected. Drama does not solve these conditions. Practicing connection, attention, kindness and especially empathy could be a path toward decreasing drama, or at least making it easier for you to tolerate it.

For example, if somebody is being a “drama king/queen” look past their behaviors to see a loving presence.

• If you feel you do not deserve to be with your family, temporarily attempt to change your thoughts by considering what you have done that is worthwhile and/or has benefited others. Create a summary of the good you have contributed to, and during the event, pull up the summary to remind yourself to remember worthwhile moments.

This probably will not change your deep “not good enough” feelings, but it could shift your experience of being at your family get-together.

Changing your lasting deeper feelings will probably require obtaining the assistance of a therapist.

• If the noise or activity is more than you can tolerate, consider taking a break from the event by going for a walk.

• Avoid using alcohol or drugs on the day of the event. They will decrease your ability to think clearly and successfully and healthily navigate your family relationships.

• Do not bully others at the event.

Demeaning another person does not make you better. Building healthy relationships includes compassion and empathy.

My wish is for you to enjoy the holiday season. In doing so, there is no one “right” or “wrong” way to do it. Each person has their own needs.

I encourage you to listen to your own heart as to what is appropriate for you.

To build healthy family relationships it is important to first look within yourself. If you are struggling with pain, shame, confusion, depression or anxiety about how relate to your family, please seek assistance from a therapist or minister.

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 provides video-based counseling and is located in Westchester. If you have any questions, please contact Fay at (310) 645-6762.

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

Pastor, Larry Becker

10:00 am (Indoors & Livestream)

10:00 am (Indoors & Livestream)

10:00 am (Indoors & Livestream)

7:00 pm (Indoors & Livestream)

10:00 am (Indoors & Livestream)

WESTCHESTER LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL

November 2021 • Page 21

Gluten free (cont’d) (continued from page 18) I suggest you try an enzyme to help with digesting these small amounts of incidental gluten. It can protect your gut lining from damage when gluten is accidentally ingested in small amounts. You can buy various brands off the shelf. I like the Apex brand called Glutenflam.

Grateful for a gluten free Thanksgiving If this will be your first GF Thanksgiving, take heart! GF stuffing and gravy is delish. I make several types of GF pie every year, and with most grocery stores selling ready to bake frozen GF pie shells, it couldn’t be simpler.

It does take a little extra preparation though, especially if you’re going somewhere else for your annual Thanksgiving. If so, be sure and share with the host that you are gluten sensitive or celiac, and perhaps offer to bring a GF pie or GF stuffing to their feast.

It sometimes can be awkward to share this, but your health is worth it! You would do the same for your friend or family if they had food allergies and were dining at your home.

Page 22 • November 2021

Going gluten free is a challenge and a big lifestyle adjustment, but the payoff is real. Many people get a new lease on life from going GF. If you truly have NCGS, celiac disease, or any kind of autoimmune issues, stick with it. Remember, one crumb is enough to make some people sick, and one bite is thousands of crumbs. So unless you have zero bites of gluten for several months, you’re not truly gluten free, which for many of us is meant to be.

Are you struggling with food allergies, including gluten sensitivity?

If you’re interested in joining a virtual support group for people having to “do without,” contact Weitz to sign up. Groups are currently forming.

Sheri Weitz, RDN, CDE is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist and a wellness coach with a private practice in Westchester.

If you would like to get tested for gluten sensitivity or find out more about how nutrition and food sensitivities/allergies may be affecting your health, email MovetoWellness7@gmail.com or visit MovetoWellness.net.

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

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14th AT 9 AM-1 PM YOU WILL FIND: FURNITURE • TOYS • GAMES BOOKS • KIDS & ADULT CLOTHING • HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AND APPLIANCES B&J Service Center, Corner of Anise Ave. and 80th, Donations are welcomed.

Please come support our troop, all proceeds go toward our San Francisco Bridging trip!

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

November 2021 • Page 23

Page 24 • November 2021

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

There are a great number of seniors in our community who can benefit from WPV services but due to financial hardship they are not able to participate in our program.

To address this NEED, WPV is launching a fundraising challenge to raise $12,000 in the month of November. Our goal is to raise enough funds to sponsor 50 low income seniors for a full year of services.

Our goal is to raise $1500 weekly during the month of November and we need your help. Please give what you can and share this with others. All contributions will be matched by sponsors who have committed to donating $1500 each week as well.

Together, we can achieve our goal of $12,000 by the end of the month.

www.thewpv.org. with your phone. to 44321.

Westside Pacific Villages, 8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd. #326, Los Angeles, CA 90045, Memo Attn: Giving Tuesday WPV is appreciative of financial donations in any amount. Your gift will allow us to continue our mission of helping older adults age at-home. $25 Donation: This gift will provide our clients door to door transportation services for appointments and other outings $50 Donation: This gift will provide errand services such as light housekeeping, grocery shopping, technology support and more for our seniors $100 Donation: This gift can help pay for weekly social support calls and f riendly visits or special monthly care packages $250 Donation: This amount will provide one senior a full year of WPV services. Services and programs such as, social support calls, f riendly visits, special holiday deliveries, social activities, community events, light chores, technology support, service referrals, and more

Westside Pacific Villages | (310) 695-7030 | info@thewpv.org Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News

November 2021 • Page 25

honoring Jane St. John

OCTOBER 20 | WESTCHESTER ELKS LODGE

The community came out to celebrate Playa del Rey resident and local real estate agent Jane St. John at the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club’s annual Cultural Dinner celebration on October 20th.

The crowd at the sold-out Westchester Elks Lodge was treated to dinner, cocktails and entertainment courtesy of two singing waiters at the “That’s Amore” themed gala, which raises money for the Marina del Rey-based club’s local and international services projects.

During the event, St. John was recognized with the club’s 2021 Page 26 • November 2021

Sunrise Community Service Award for her decades-long support of the community, events and nonprofits including AMCS, the Holiday Home Tour, Helen’s Room, local schools, the Fourth of July Parade and more.

St. John has also hosted the Playa del Rey Toy and Shelter Animal Drive for the last 21 years in Triangle Park.

All of the toys collected are donated to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

This year’s event is scheduled for December 4.

“We were thrilled to recognize Jane as this year’s honoree,” said Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club President

Maria Davis. “Jane is the epitome of Rotary’s ‘Service above self’ motto, and is so incredibly generous to our local Westchester/Playa community.

With the money raised from the event, we will be able to support many deserving nonprofits and give back to our area in a variety of ways.

We love Jane’s philosophy of ‘You make a living by what you earn...and you make a life by what you give!’”

For Jane St. John, giving back and supporting her community is in her blood. Growing up in the small town of Wasco, near Bakersfield, her father instilled in their family

the importance of philanthropy and keeping your dollars local. He would always say “You spend your money where you make it,” and St. John has always taken that to heart.

Thanks to the generosity of attendees and sponsors, as well as an exciting live auction, more than $68,000 was raised, which will support the club’s upcoming projects like the Holiday Adopt-A-Family program, serving at the Midnight Mission, the local Santa Tour, distributing Teacher Mini Grants, providing scholarships for high school students, and more.

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

Photos by Glenn Marzano.

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November 2021 • Page 27

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