October edition of the Westchester/Playa HomeTown News

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HOMETOWN

NEWS

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

October

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Chamber “Connects to Tech” in effort to attract new members The LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce is taking a new approach to help tap into one of the area’s fastest growing industries—technology. With the recent influx of businesses like YouTube, Microsoft, Facebook and many tech start-ups moving into Playa Vista and the Westside, the chamber has had to take notice of the area’s changing business demographics, and has had to rethink how to engage these types of businesses with the traditional chamber model. The chamber, which was created in 1953, is a membershipbased business organization that is known for its networking mixers, ribbon cuttings and business advocacy.

The chamber is also responsible for community events including the

Teacher Eddy Awards, ChamberFest and the annual Fourth of July Parade along Loyola Boulevard.

When the Chamber held its quarterly Technology Meeting and no one showed up, they knew they had to change their strategy for attracting the tech industry to its membership ranks.

“We needed a strategy to get the technology industry to see that we had value. Tech people didn’t want to come to our technology meetings to learn about LinkedIn or Facebook,” said the chamber’s member services director Rachel Horning. “We weren’t creating a community that was relevant (continued on page 8) At right: Chamber staff members work in the coworking space.

Community celebrates fall with a variety of activities October means autumn is in full swing, and the community will be celebrating with a variety of fall and Halloween events. With the collaboration between Otis’ Ben Maltz Gallery and LMU’s Laband Gallery for the supernatural “Tapping the Third Realm” exhibit, many unique events will be open to the community to help get people into the spooky spirit of the season. October also sees numerous community mainstays like the St. Jerome Carnival and the Open Magnet Charter School Fall Festival. After a four year run, the Westchester Town Center BID’s Halloween Town Fair and Window Painting Competition has been canceled “due to concern that the event took away from other community events throughout the fall.”

Please find a list of fall/Halloween community events taking place this month: • St. Jerome will hold its semi-annual carnival starting 6 p.m. Friday, October 18. The carnival will also be open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, October 19. The event will be western-themed and include rides, games, dancing

entertainment and more. St. Jerome is located at 5580 Thornburn St. in Westchester. For more information, please visit stjeromewestchester.org.

• Westchester Park will hold its annual Haunted House October 25, 26, 30 and 31. Attendees must be 8 years and older and the cost is $5 per entry.

This year, there are two different mazes.

The park will also hold a Halloween Kids Zone on Thursday, October 31 from 4 to 8 p.m. for children ages 2 to 8. The event will include crafts, games, candy, a bounce house, costume contest, scary stories and face painting.

Please contact the Westchester Recreation Center at (310) 670-7473 for more info.

• The Westchester Family YMCA will hold a Halloween Spooktacular Event on Wednesday, October 30 from 5 to 8 p.m. This free community event will entertain the kids with games, food, prizes, trick or treating and a haunted hallway. The YMCA is located at 8015 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Westchester.

For more information, please contact the YMCA at (310) 670-4316.

(continued on page 5)

At left: Although the Halloween Town Fair isn’t taking place this year, there will be numerous fairs and activities.

A look inside your

HomeTown

07 Westchester family brings cow share program to neighbors

12 Improvements to eatside of Sepulveda set to proceed

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Thank you

Sporting an ‘I Choose Peace!’ button and an airbrush tattoo

Family fun – all around

Flag Bearers – Visitation parent, Andy Asari with sons, Visitation School students, Aiden and Nolan

Lt. Ferris, 387th QM Co. delivers appreciation speech and certificates (for hosting dinner for the 387th soldiers and families at the August event) to Mrs. Terry O’Connor (L), Mr. Dick Laner (2nd from R) and Mr. Chris Watson, Visitation School Principal (far right) This is what happens with Fiats and the Italians arrive – sooooo much more fun than a tea party!

Fantastic Fig & Newton Dazzle the crowd!

It’s all about the FOOD!

Visitation School Principal, Chris Watson, with his JK twins, Ella and Nolan, with Sr. Joan Hagen, SJC, and Msgr. Hill, following the Prayers for Peace Rally

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LMU’s Lion about town

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October 2013

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

Page 3

T h i s M o n t h B r i n g s Yo u October Features Community members to be honored at October events 6 Chamber “Connects to Tech” 8 Two churches invite pets to “Blessing of the Animals” 10 13 Ask Ms. Peters 15 The critical month of October for fitness To Do/Calendar 16-17 23-24 In Pictures

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

To Do

Calendar Happenings Pictures Business and Professional

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

HOMETOWN STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS

– GAIL & JOHN RUHLEN

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

Nora Lee Owens, Humor Jeff Blair, Contributing Writer Jack Younger, Contributing Cartoonist

Advertisers’ Directory

Brooklyn Water Bagel 06 Business & Professional 21 Covenant Presbyterian Church 10 Drollinger Charitable Foundation 13 Drollinger Properties 06 Food Pantry, LAX 10 Danielle “Seruto” Gulalo 19 Gateway to Go 08 Guilded Cage 09 Jane St. John 19 Kevin and Kaz Gallaher 18 LA Arts Collective 12 Matilla Property 12 Nora Lee Owens 19 Neighborhood Council 24 Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary 20

t a t i d n u o f We ! r e t n e C n w o T r e t s e h Westc

Pigments of Our Imagination 04, 20 Silver Seminar Series 10 Socal Sports and Fitness 07 South Bay Brokers 18 St. Bernard High School 05 Vergari & Associates 20 Visitation School 02 Westchester Family YMCA 07 Westchester Farmers’ Market 23 Westchester First Fridays 09 Westchester Lutheran 22 Westchester Town Center BID 03 Westchester/Playa Village 22 Westchester Watch Works 11 Westside Neighborhood School 04 Zacha Homes 19

“From eyes to teeth and skin to toes and even massage, Westchester Town Center doctors take care of all that ails us. Curves is around the corner and the YMCA is up the street, so we can honestly say that Westchester Town Center does a body good.”

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

Connect with the HTN:

Mailing Address: 8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 110 #745 Westchester, CA 90045 Phone: (310) 641-1016 Email: westchesterhometown@yahoo.com or htn@thehtn.com Website: http://www.thehtn.com Facebook: facebook.com/thehtn

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

October 2013

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

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Community

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NCWP PLUC tables vote on Playa del Rey’s Legado project Community members packed the Westchester Community Room to hear from Legado representatives about the proposed project at 138 Culver Blvd. in Playa del Rey at the Tuesday, September 17 Westchester/Playa Neighborhood Council Planning and Land Use Committee (PLUC) meeting.

Legado representative Bruce Resnick was on hand to discuss updates made to the project since the last time the company made a presentation to the PLUC in July and the vote was tabled.

“Basically, where Legado is at today is we’ve heard the concerns, we’ve heard the complaints, and hopefully what I have tonight is something that you will find positive in terms of the response to things we heard,” said Resnick at the meeting.

Two main issues that raised concern at the last meeting were traffic and parking impacts that could be generated by the mixed-use project with a proposed 72 units.

Resnick said that the proposed retail space for the project had triggered a significant traffic impact at Culver Blvd. and Nicholson St. In order to not trigger the need for a “Pershing on-ramp,” that could add an additional turning lane to Nicholson, the company has proposed to cut the retail/restaurant portion of the

Legado representatives address the committee during the September 17 meeting.

project by 10% from 16,000 square feet to under14,500 square feet.

According to Resnick, this will reduce the number of trips generated by the project and will demonstrate to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation that the “categories used to measure the kind of traffic this project would produce were not really accurate.”

At 16,000 square feet the project was considered a shopping center, which Resnick did not think was appropriate for something that should be considered “specialty retail” and will include four

or five retail shops and a coffee shop or cafe.

Resnick also said the company is committed to adding a mezzanine level of parking to the project, that can be accessed off of Pacific Ave. The mezzanine level would bring the parking spaces for the project from 188 to 218. Resnick stated those mezzanine parking spaces would be made available to the public.

Community members at the meeting largely spoke in opposition to the project, concerned about its size and the

project changing the characteristics of the close-knit beach community. Others requested that an EIR for the project, as well as other Playa del Rey properties owned by Legado, be completed before a vote is taken by the committee. Those that supported the project, spoke of the need for more retail and restaurants in Playa del Rey, as well as the need for enhancements to the community.

In the end, however, the committee unanimously voted to once again delay voting on the project and table the issue until community members have a chance to review all of the new documents and diagrams provided by Legado.

“We do need additional retail. We don’t need a freeway up Pershing and we do need parking. I think we are moving in the right direction, but until the folks get a chance to review everything, I can’t ask the committee to vote on this,” said committee member David Voss. “We hope that everyone can understand that unfortunately we need another 30 days to digest this and to have more feedback from our neighbors that we represent before we can move forward.”

The issue is expected to be brought up at the next PLUC meeting, scheduled for October 15.

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October 2013

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

Halloween events in the community (continued) (continued from page 1) • Open Magnet Charter School will hold its Fall Family Festival on Saturday, October 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Open Magnet Charter School is located at 5540 West 77th St. in Westchester.

The event will feature a haunted house, fairyland, multicultural food booths, carnival games, bounce houses, arts and crafts, live music and bake sale.

•Los Angeles Arts Collective will hold a Fall Day of Fun on Sunday, October 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be pumpkin painting, a costume parade, face painting, a Halloween photo booth and Halloween-themed dances.

Los Angeles Arts Collective is located at 8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Suite 105 in Westchester.

• Otis events: All Otis events take place on the main campus at Otis College of Art and Design and are organized by the students under the direction of Heather Joseph Witham, Liberal Arts and Sciences and Student Activities. For more information about any of these events, please contact (310) 665- 6905 or email galleryinfo@otis.edu.

• In honor of our pets, Otis students will create a public, outdoor Día de los Muertos altar located in the quad between the Ahmanson Building and the Galef Fine Arts Center. Throughout the week, the community is invited to contribute photographs or mementos celebrating their cherished pets. This

event will take place Monday, October 28 through November 1. Altars will also be on display at LMU’s Hannon library and the Westchester Loyola Village Library.

• It’s a Halloween Fiesta! Join Otis students in a pumpkin decorating contest and display your creations in the quad while engaging in traditional Halloween games, witchy divinations, and feasting on ghoulish snacks.

Students from Cultural Studies classes, along with a professional tall-taletellers will share spooky Otis legends while stalking the campus halls. This event takes place Thursday, October 31, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Come to Otis for a Día de los Muertos celebration with Aztec dancers, chalk street art, live graffiti action painting, face painting and music in the quad on Friday, November 1 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Tapping the Third Realm Events: These events are a collaboration between Otis and LMU galleries in conjunction with the exhibit “Tapping the Third Realm.”

• Join LMU and Otis for a literary reading. Alicia Gaspar de Alba reads from her book Calligraphy of the Witch (2012) followed by a conversation with “Tapping the Third Realm” curators Meg Linton and Carolyn Peter. This event is co-sponsored by LMU’s William H. Hannon Library, Laband Art Gallery, Chicana/o Studies and

Chicano Latino Student Services and OTIS Ben Maltz Gallery. This event takes place Wednesday, October 16 at 6 p.m. and is free with reservation.

The event takes place at LMU’s William H. Hannon Library, Von der Ahe Suite (third floor).

• Under the direction of Professor Kevin Wetmore, LMU Theatre Arts students perform a site-specific Renaissance-inspired work “Full Moon Event I: The Summoning” at LMU’s Laband Art Gallery and lead the audience on a spiritual and physical journey to the Otis Ben Maltz Gallery.

Program begins at LMU at 7 p.m. and finishes at Otis by 9 p.m. Dress for the evening weather and wear walking shoes.

This event will take place Friday, October 18.

• Spaces Between Events: Otis and LMU have partnered this fall on a large series of free community events called “Spaces Between,” a series of exhibitions, performances, talks, rituals, and workshops that explore dimensions of the supernatural.

• Join LMU Professor Kevin Wetmore for a discussion “A Murder of Horror Writers Talk about Things Dark, Dreadful and Delightful” with fellow Horror Writer Association members Jennifer Bosworth (The Killing Jar), Gretchen McNeil (Possess) and Josh “Worm” Miller (A Zombie History of the United States) about horror on the

Page 5

page and on the screen. This event will take place on Tuesday, October 22 at 7 p.m at‌LMU’s William H. Hannon Library, Von der Ahe Suite.

Please RSVP by calling (310) 3385234.

• Witness first hand a world of hair-rising hares, skeleton dances, and evil gigantic demons coming out of mountains in a series of animated films at the First Horror Animation Festival.

Professor José García Moreno offers his spooky commentaries. Hosted by LMU School of Film and Television.

This event takes place Friday, October 25 from 8 to 10 p.m. at the LMU Mayer Theater in the Communication Arts Building Please RSVP by calling (310) 3385234.

• Join the LMU Theatre Arts students for a “Literary Trick or Treat: the Haunting of Hannon Library” as they haunt the stacks of Hannon Library with scenes from horror novels as ghostly guides escort you through paranormal literary activity. Tours leave every 10 minutes.

This event takes place on Sunday, October 27 and is open to kids 10 years and older from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and open to adults 8 to 9:30 p.m. in the William H. Hannon Library.

You’re Invited to Join the St. Bernard Family this October!

Homecoming Pre - Game

Homecoming Football Game

Friday, Oct 18

Friday, Oct 18, 7pm

5pm: VikingFest Admission is FREE! Student clubs and organizations will be selling Viking gear, homemade goodies, cold drink s, and much more!

5:30pm: Blessing and Rededication of the Senior Stars Join us as we rededicate our signature Senior Stars and celebrate a piece of Bernard histor y atop the Senior Stairs.

6pm: Mexican Fiesta in the VIP Lounge (aka Librar y) Dinner is $20; Dinner and a T-Shir t is $30.

Come Cheer on our Vikings in our VIP Lounge and enjoy our Mexican Fiesta! Dinner ser ved with all the fixings, including homemade guacamole and ice cold mock-a-ritas!

Photos by Eric Wade, EW Gems Images

$7 entrance fee. Watch our Var sit y Viking Football team lead us to another victor y!

Spor t your best Viking gear and shout from the stands, or enjoy the game from the VIP lounge. Either way, you are sure to have the best seat in the house!

Varsity Football Youth Day Friday, Oct 25, 7pm Admission FREE for elementar y and middle school students! Students of all ages and their families are welcome to come cheer on our Viking football star s and enjoy our star studded half-time show! Featuring all of the Mar vel Comic Book Heroes!

For more information, please call St. Bernard High School at: 310.823.4651

9100 Falmouth Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90293 • www.StBernardHS.com • 310.823.4651

October 2013

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

Page 6

Community

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Community members to be honored at October events October seems to be event season in the Westchester/Playa area with numerous non-profits holding their big galas this month. Below is a list of community members that are being honored for their outstanding work with local organizations.

What: Venice Boys and Girls Club 8th Annual Champion of Youth Gala Who: At the event, Playa del Rey resident, David Voss, will be awarded the Community Leader Award. Voss will be presented the honor for his work with the Boys and Girls Club as its pro bono attorney for the last 20 years, as well as his work on the organization’s Board of Governors.

When: Friday, October 4 at the Marina del Rey Ritz Carlton

More info: www.bgcv.org/gala What: Flight Path’s 10th Anniversary Gala Who: Flight Path Museum President Rowena Ake will be presented the Guiding Light Award at the gala for her leadership and dedication to the aviation museum and years of building support in the community for the museum’s educational mission.

When: Thursday, October 10 at the Flight Path Museum More info: www.flightpathmuseum. com What: 8th Annual Moonlight on the Marsh Who: Karen and Ken Dial of the Drollinger Charitable Foundation will be honored for the organization’s contributions to local non-profits and

and will feature dinner, music and entertainment.

When: Tuesday, October 22 at the Playa Vista CenterPointe Club More info: www.playasunrise.org

environmental causes.

When: Saturday, October 19 at the Playa Vista CenterPointe Club More info: www. moonlightonthemarsh.com What: Annual Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Cultural Dinner Who: Councilman Mike Bonin will be the club’s recipient of the Community Service Award at the event. This year’s cultural dinner will have a South Pacific theme

What: Bill Rosendahl Collection Celebration Who: LMU will be celebrating the contributions of former L.A. City Councilman Bill Rosendahl.

The university’s library will receive the Rosendahl Collection, which consists of more than 29 years of interviews with local state, federal and international leaders.

When: Tuesday, October 22 at Loyola Marymount University’s McIntosh Center More info: lmu.edu/RSVP/Bill_ Rosendahl_Collection_Celebration.htm

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Page 7

Westchester family brings “cow share” program to neighbors, community Looking to be more conscious about what they eat, one Westchester family has started their own farm in central Washington specializing in raising grass-fed cows.

For Westchester’s Amy and Matthew Kot, the idea of starting their own business to fill a need is now second nature. In 2006, the couple purchased a vineyard in Argentina and the next year started a wine business that produces South American varieties of wine rarely grown stateside. Their label, Solsticio, is now sold throughout Southern California, as well as Seattle, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

Last year, while looking to start another business, they considered buying farmland in Argentina, before settling on a five-acre farm in Ellensburg, Washington within walking distance of Amy’s grandfather’s home.

The land had been used for cattle grazing, which led the Kots to consider raising their own cows on the property.

After a little bit of research, they were able to find a cattleman who raises and sells organically grown grass-fed cows and they purchased three for their first year as Solstice Family Farms.

While the Kots visit when they can, the day-to-day operations of the farm are managed by a recent graduate of Central Washington State with a degree in agricultural. His job is mostly hands-

While Solstice Family Farms had three cows this year, the Kots hope to hold up to ten cows on their property.

off, however, as the cows require little maintenance besides being watered and rotated to a fresh pasture every few days.

According to Matthew, unlike cows in a factory farm, his cows, a cross breed of Angus bulls and registered Limousin cows known for their lean meat, haven’t gotten sick once this season or needed antibiotics. Instead, the cows spend their day grazing on pesticide-free, foot-high grass and drink fresh water from the snow melt of Washington’s Cascade Mountains. This

October 2013

fall, once the cows are 18 months old, they will be humanly slaughtered on the farm.

“The cows will have had a good life. They are out in the sunshine and enjoying the grass like cows should. If you are eating meat, this is the way you should be eating it,” said Matthew. “If you are being conscious about what you eat, there is a responsibility to the animals themselves too.”

While the Kots are excited about the prospect of having organic, hormonefree beef for their own family, they

needed a plan for the excess meat and decided to set up a “cow share” program. A cow share program enables people to buy a portion of the cow, say a 1/8 or 1/4 section, with the benefits of knowing how the beef was raised and what it was fed. The Kots reached out to their friends and family offering the beef at around nine dollars a pound, about half the price of purchasing similar quality beef at a specialty market. The Kots recommended purchasing a 1/8 share, which comes out to 53 pounds of meat and should last a family of four about four months and can fit into a regular kitchen freezer.

As of press time, the Kots had 20 local families signed up with their cow share program with only a 1/2 share left.

“I wasn’t sure how people would react, but people really are opening their eyes to the quality of food they putting in their body,” said Matthew. “[The people purchasing cow shares] are without a doubt families with kids.

Everyone has been very responsive to it. People are changing the way they eat; there really is a difference between organic and eating it really is so much better for you.”

Interested in learning more? Contact Matthew Kot at (310) 901-5145.

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

Page 8

Community

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Chamber “Connects to Tech” to attract new members(continued) (continued from page 1) to them.”

So Horning hit the pavement, spending an estimated 200 hours visiting tech networking events organized through websites like meetup.com and Facebook.

Everywhere she went she asked those she met with what a traditional organization like the chamber could offer an industry that is cutting-edge, constantly changing and often makes its own rules.

“Most of our chamber businesses have brick and mortar locations, but these [tech] businesses don’t rely on geographical locations. Where a restaurant is hoping to appeal to customers locally, these businesses are attracting people globally,” said Horning. “The question became ‘is tech local?’”

For Horning, the challenge became identifying where the chamber could be helpful to this rapidly expanding business segment and how to create a central hub for connecting brick and mortar business owners to the tech community. Through her meetings and conversations, Horning was able to identify two places where the chamber could be a valuable commodity: advocacy and workspace, and Connect to Tech LA was born.

While the chamber has worked hard to cultivate relationships with elected officials through its advocacy efforts

Rachel Horning addresses the tech industry at a recent Free Lunch Friday event in Venice.

and public policy committee, she learned that those in tech, especially those working at startups, were having trouble making connections with city hall.

“Advocating for business is something we already do at the chamber and it was interesting to hear the issues affecting the tech industry like visa problems and the issue of “patent trolling,” said Horning. “When our members bring up issues that affect their businesses, we can help guide them to who they should connect with or put their issue on our public policy agenda.”

She also discovered that many in the

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tech industry are “nomadic,” meaning they don’t have their own offices, and can set up shop anywhere, including their home or a coffee shop, as long as they have their laptops.

In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that by 2020, about 65 million Americans will be freelancers, temps, independent contractors and “solopreneurs” and will make up about 40% of the workforce.

With those findings in hand, the chamber has decided to jump on the concept of “coworking space” hoping to accommodate these nomadic workers.

Starting October 1, the business organization is opening up its doors and launching “LAX Coworking.” The idea is to attract home office workers, freelancers, web developers and startup founders to the chamber office for free wifi, coffee and the opportunity to connect with people in the same field.

The chamber is offering its coworking space for free for the month of October, while it is still in its “beta” stage.

Horning explains that coworking spaces have popped up throughout the Westside and are in high demand for those that don’t necessarily need an office, but are looking for a new creative space to work in or simply need a place to focus. Generally the system works by interested parties contacting the coworking space and purchasing either a membership or

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block of time where they can use the communal space. For the chamber, they are using a broker to facilitate the process and people can sign up online to reserve their block of time at the office. The chamber is hoping the idea will take off and lead to satellite offices in the organization’s coverage area.

“The idea is that people will use our office space and get to know about the chamber and the benefits of connecting to their local community even in the face of global business,” said chamber president and CEO Christina Davis.

“There are a lot of great opportunities for the tech industry to connect with our local businesses and vice versa and we want to make sure we are facilitating these relationships any way we can.”

For the sixty year old organization, its new Connect to Tech program and offering coworking space is just another way they can help spearhead new relationships in an increasingly technological world.

“In recent years, we’ve really had to reevaluate what we are offering our members,” said Davis. “We are so much more than just ribbon cuttings and networking mixers. We are advocates for local businesses and are adept at connecting people with each other. At the chamber, we are all about building synergy and relationships and we hope this accomplishes just that.”

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Page 9

Looking Back...

• your community newspaper • your community • your community newspaper

Visitation Church welcomes priest to parish

By David J. “Duke” Dukesherer, Sr.

A Little Surfridge History Recently, I gave several interviews regarding Surfridge, the former neighborhood in Playa del Rey. At one point, many Hollywood stars and other luminaries called Surfridge Estates and Palisades del Rey home. Mae Murray, George Beban, Mel Blanc, Richard and Cecil B. “Demille” and Charles Bickford all lived in Playa del Rey. Although she only lived here for a brief period of time, Judy Lewis, secret daughter of Loretta Young and Clark Gable, lived on Rindge Avenue.

Apparently Loretta Young and her mother, Gladys Royal, rented the home.

Playa del Rey in 1935 was still very much off the beaten path, and it was a perfect spot for Young to hide from sight during the latter months of her pregnancy. As soon as Lewis was born, Young moved back to her home in Bel Air, and Lewis was shipped off to an orphanage. Almost two years later, Young retrieved her daughter, claiming publicly that she had adopted her.

When Lewis was four years old, her mother married businessman Tom Lewis, and Judy went by his last name.

Lewis only met Clark Gable once, but did not learn that he was her biological father until many years later.

Like her mother and father, Lewis also worked as an actor. She had parts

LORETTA YOUNG, 1913-2000. A relative of Loretta Young presented me with this signed photo in the 1990’s. PHOTO COURTESY THE AUTHOR.

in numerous television series including General Hospital, The Secret Storm and The Outlaws.

Aside from acting, Lewis obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in clinical psychology from Antioch University in Los Angeles and became a licensed family and child counselor in 1992 with specialty in foster care and marriage therapy.

She died in 2011 from cancer.

Please email comments to: dukepdr@gmail.com

Monsignor Charles Hill was recently appointed Visitation Parish “Administrator pro temp” by Archbishop Jose Gomez after the unexpected passing of Father Brelsford in August. Monsignor Hill is already well acquainted with the church’s parishioners having assisted at the parish for the last four years.

Hill’s long career in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles began in 1952 when he was admitted to the Junior Seminary.

He was ordained a priest in 1964 and served first as an associate pastor in St. Anthony’s Parish in Oxnard and then went on to serve as an administrator in various archdiocesan high schools. He was principal of Bishop Montgomery High School, Bishop Amat H.S., Pius X H.S. and Serra H.S. In 1989, he was appointed Pastor of St. Genevieve Parish and later was also appointed pastor of St. Basil’s Church. He served in these capacities until his retirement in 2006.

Monsignor Hill became acquainted

Monsignor Charles Hill.

with Visitation when he assisted the late pastor, Reverend Brelsford, first at St. Timothy’s and later at Visitation.

A permanent priest is expected to be appointed to the parish next year.

WESTCHESTER

FIRST Thank you for voting us a Favorite Community Event!

F R I D A Y S

Fall Into Fitness!

Food Trucks & Fun!!!

12+ of L.A.’s Best Gourmet Food Trucks, Music and Lots of Tables and Chairs!

Visit us at www.facebook.com/WestchesterFirstFridays or email wherethesidewalkeats@gmail.com

Friday, October 4th • 4-9:30 pm

@6200 Block of W. 87th Street, Westchester October 2013

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

Page 10

Board of Airport Commissioners elects officers; names Playa del Rey resident vice president

St. Anastasia’s Msgr. Gabriel Gonzales blesses the animals at last year’s event.

Local churches invite community to bring animals to blessing event All creatures big and small are invited to receive a special blessing from two Westchester churches during “Blessing of the Animals” events this month.

This annual blessing generally occurs close to October 4, the Feast Day of St. Francis, who was deeply committed and concerned about the well being of animals and nature.

“We encourage animal lovers everywhere to bring their favorite pet for this free event,” says the Rev. Peter Rood, who will conduct the blessing on the lawn at Westchester’s Holy Nativity Church. “We will pay honor to all pets from goldfish to snakes to the more common creatures. You

may even bring a stuffed animal or a memento of a lost pet. We will bless them all.”

St. Anastasia Church will hold its Blessing of the Animals event on Saturday, October 5 at 7390 W. Manchester Ave. in Westchester starting at 10 a.m. Everyone is invited to bring their pets and all species are welcome. Each pet will be recognized and blessed at the event.

Animals are asked to be brought in carriers or on leashes.

The Holy Nativity Blessing of the Animals will take place on Sunday, October 6 at 1:30 p.m. Holy Nativity is located at 6700 W. 83rd Street in Westchester.

The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners elected Sean Burton as its president and Valeria Velasco as its vice president on September 17.

Commissioner Burton is president of CityView and a member of CityView’s Board of Directors and Investment Committee. CityView is a real estate fund sponsor and operator that manage public pension, hedge fund and other institutional capital to invest in urban residential housing throughout the United States.

Prior to joining CityView, Commissioner Burton was a senior executive at Warner Bros., where he was responsible for making strategic investments. His other professional experience includes serving as a transactional attorney at O’Melveny & Myers, LLP, and serving in the White House and for the Democratic National Committee during the Clinton Administration.

He previously served on the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, where he chaired the subcommittee overseeing approval of the proposed Farmers Field National Football League stadium. He also had a leading role in advocating structural

changes in the state’s fiscal and budgetary process when he was appointed by the Governor in 2001 to the California Commission on Tax Policy and the New Economy.

Commissioner Velasco, a Playa del Rey estate planning attorney, has been a member of the Board of Airport Commissioners since 2005 and has served continuously as its vice president during that time.

She has also served as a City of Los Angeles Planning Commissioner; Staff Legal Counsel and Hispanic Liaison to former City Councilman Michael Woo; Assembly Aide/Hispanic Liaison to former Assemblyman Mike Roos; and a bilingual elementary school teacher.

The seven-member Board of Airport Commissioners governs Los Angeles World Airports. It is comprised of business and civic leaders who are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council.

The other Board of Airport Commission members are: Gabriel L. Eshaghian, Jackie Goldberg, Beatrice C. Hsu, Matthew M. Johnson and Cynthia A. Telles.

Come Join Your Friends At

COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

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

Church School for Young People during Service

Pastor: Rev. Cathy Chisholm

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

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

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If you have Food to donate, take to Covenant Presbyterian Church or bring to location from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Volunteers and money donations also welcomed and encouraged.

For further information, please call (310) 677-5597

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October 2013

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

Page 11

Otis and LMU receive new grant to attract veterans to their campuses

By Meg Linton Otis College of Art and Design and Loyola Marymount University are proud to be recipients of The Ahmanson Foundation’s first-ever Ahmanson Veteran Scholarship Initiative (AVSI). The two Westchester institutions are among twentyfive prestigious private colleges and universities in California to receive funds, which are being used specifically to recruit, retain, and educate student veterans at these schools.

The AVSI is intended to support the young men and women returning in record numbers from Iraq and Afghanistan, whose abilities and experience make them ideal college student candidates. Recognizing that public colleges and universities are not the perfect fit for all students and that the transition from military life to student life can have its challenges, the grant program provides returning veterans the additional financial support needed to attend and ultimately graduate from private institutions of higher learning like Otis and LMU. The AVSI is the brain child of Foundation President William H. Ahmanson, who shared, “These young men and women have done so much for this country. The Ahmanson Foundation is delighted to play a role in helping them re-start their education and assimilate back to their civilian lives.”

With an initial combined award of $1,250,000 for the 2013-2014 academic year, colleges have the authority and freedom to determine how best to allocate the funds which can be directed in a variety of ways: developing recruitment plans, implementing veteran student outreach, covering the tuition gap, creating oncampus veteran service centers, or even developing a more veteran-friendly campus life. If there are barriers on the road to graduation, schools can use these funds to remove them.

“Otis is honored to be among the institutions chosen by The Ahmanson Foundation to help support veterans

and their families,” said Otis President Samuel Hoi. “We take this commitment to heart and look forward to welcoming these courageous men and women into our community, and serving their needs as they pursue their educational goals.”

Otis is applying its $50,000 grant to scholarship awards supporting five undergraduates with majors in digital media, fine arts, graphic design and toy design and one candidate in the Graduate Fine Arts program.

In late September, Otis hosted a reception designed to celebrate the AVSI recipients and to introduce the Post 9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon veterans from the twenty-five private colleges. At this reception, Justin Wilson, who is fifth generation Navy having served for twelve years in Virginia Beach and Coronado and is an OTIS undergraduate studying Fine Arts, Digital Media and Creative Writing, expressed his appreciation for the additional financial aid because it fills in the gaps. It allows him to focus a hundred percent on his studies because art school curriculum is rigorous.

Said Wilson, “Any minute of free time I have, I always feel like I’m forgetting something I’m supposed to be doing.”

The Post 9/11 GI Bill pays tuition and fees up to $18,077 for veterans who attend private schools. By participating in the Yellow Ribbon program, Otis provides additional funds that are matched by the Veteran’s Administration to cover the rest of the students’ tuition and fees.

“Otis has been very generous to their veterans, which has allowed us to focus on schoolwork rather than having to worry too much about financial aid issues,” says Nick Edinger, a Westchester resident and Digital Media student in his second year who served in the United States Marine Corps as a combat illustrator and photographer.

“With the addition of this scholarship, my school year will be financially worry-free.”

When asked about the long-term goals of the AVSI, William Ahmanson shared, “Expanding veteran admissions in private colleges and universities and a hundred percent graduation rate of these students would be the best-

Have a holiday event or promotion you’d like to advertise?

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Contact us at (310) 641-1016 or at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com October 2013

The Ahmanson Foundation President William Ahmanson (left center) with student veterans who received scholarships from the Ahmanson Veteran Scholarship Initiative. Eleven of 25 participating colleges and universities were represented at a reception held at Otis College of Art and Design.

PHOTO BY JOSHUA KRAUSE.

case scenario. Though our initiative is California based, we believe campuses nationwide could benefit from the contribution of veteran students. Seeing more philanthropic organizations in other parts of the country participate in a veteran scholarship of their own would be the proverbial icing on the cake.”

As part of this initiative, beyond the award amount, The Ahmanson Foundation has created a website to

assist veterans in discovering higher education opportunities in California.

It also lists all twenty-five AVSI colleges and universities and provides information to funders interested in veteran opportunities. For more information on the program, please visit vetsback2college.com.

Meg Linton is the Director of Galleries and Exhibitions for Otis College of Art and Design is a contributing columnist on the arts in

Come Visit Us in our New Location!

Westchester Watch Works We’ve moved, but not far!

Westchester Watch Works is now in a new, larger location. Please visit us!

630 N. Sepulveda Boulevard El Segundo, CA 90245 310.641.1074 www.westchesterwatchworks.com

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

R

Page 12

Improvements to eastside of Sepulveda can proceed after approval from board of public works On September 24, the Westchester Landscape Entry Project – a joint project of the Westchester Streetscape Improvement Association and the Westchester Town Center Business Improvement District – received unanimous approval from the City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works.

That means the city’s portion of the project on the east side of Sepulveda (from 79th Street to 83rd Street) can proceed.

The project will help enable pedestrians, and especially children, to more easily navigate the stretch of sidewalk that has been severely damaged by tree roots and comes at a time when the city is focusing on the Safe Routes to School program, which hopes to address making it safer and more enjoyable for students and their families to walk and bike to school throughout the City of Los Angeles.

“We have seen the injuries caused by people falling over broken sidewalks and impassable roots over the years,” said Sandra Masted, head of school for Westchester Lutheran School, in a letter to the Board of Public Works.

“It is time to repair sidewalks along Sepulveda Boulevard and create a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly streetscape with meandering sidewalks, new street trees and benches,” said Edgar Saenz, president of the Rotary Club of Westchester, and former staffer with Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who

helped secure a $1 million earmark from Congress to move the project forward.

Federal funds along with a publicprivate partnership will help pave the way for a meandering sidewalk and new trees that will not destroy the sidewalk for nearby residents who want to walk this stretch of road in Westchester. The long-awaited project started earlier this year when crews removed 17 ficus trees on the west side of Sepulveda Boulevard. Once the city completes the root removal and sidewalk repairs, probably by late 2013 or early 2014, the overgrown trees will be replaced with new ones that will cause less damage.

To fund the project, former L.A. City Councilman Bill Rosendahl and his staff negotiated a deal to extend a 15year development agreement with the Howard Hughes project. The parties reached an agreement that directed funds to go toward capital improvements on Sepulveda. Newly-elected Councilman Mike Bonin has continued to embrace this improvement project, as well.

“Indeed, this is the first community that most travelers see upon arriving in Los Angeles, and the last one they see before they depart our city,” said Congresswoman Waters. “Until this project began, when tourists, business people, and Angelenos arrived at LAX, and came into the city via Sepulveda, they were greeted by the out of control ficus trees and the buckling sidewalks.”

An artist’s rendering of what Sepulveda should look like once the improvements have been made.

COURTESY WESTCHESTER TOWN CENTER BID.

In an effort to kickstart the proposed work, retirees from the Bureau of Engineering volunteered their time to draw up the streetscape design. The sidewalk project is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

“We want people to think we take care of our city,” said Gary Lee Moore, General Manager of the Bureau of Engineering. “This project will transform this four block area with 42 new trees, meandering sidewalks, and 1,600 feet of landscaping.”

The design plan is to eventually extend the street improvement and landscaping south to the Westchester Town Center

and north to Howard Hughes Parkway.

“We are very excited about this project because it will dovetail wonderfully with the beautification efforts that have already been undertaken throughout the BID area,” said Don Duckworth, Executive Director of the BID. “We were pleased to partner with WSIA to make this happen, and we look forward to the day when everyone walking, driving, jogging or pushing a stroller along Sepulveda Boulevard is proud of what the street has become.”

Is it time for a change?

Property Management Solutions Offered by: The Matilla Group

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We manage 28 31 properties in this local area.

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Most of our units are rented in less than 2 weeks.

Our landlords are very pleased with our performance.

Is the time right for you to make a change? Would you like more information?

Then, please, go to our website’s home page at www.matillarealty.com and click on the property management tab. If you prefer to speak with me directly, directly please call (310) 306-9005 or (310) 748-0574. I hope we can be of service.

Sincerly, Steven Matilla Broker/Owner DRE Lic#: 00398688

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October 2013

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

Page 13

Opinion: Ask Ms. Peters Dear Ms. Peters, My daughter just started sixth grade and already has a tremendous amount of homework. She seems to be struggling a lot. How much is appropriate at this grade?

–Homework Blues

Dear Homework Blues, The national PTA recommendation is 10 - 20 minutes per day for 1st grade, adding 10 minutes per grade level thereafter(e.g. 20 minutes for 2nd grade to 120 minutes for 12th Grade).

This indicator is according to an average student working without any assistance. So given this framework, 60 -70 minutes seems to be what may be appropriate for your sixth grader.

If your daughter is advanced or struggling, the minutes or time will vary on the same assignment. This needs to be taken into account when calculating if the amount is excessive.

Monitor and time the homework from beginning to end for one week. Gauge whether it is the amount of homework or her study habits. Is she focused and concentrating or is she distracted and unproductive for long periods? Ask her how many teachers are assigning homework, how often and in which subjects. This can add up too. Some

teachers put this information on the school website or webpage. Examine the rigor of her assignments; are they meaningful and engaging or just boring, busy work?

If you have determined it is the amount of work or quality of rigor, call the school academic counselor, vice principal, or department chair (e.g. head of English dept.) to arrange a meeting with all her teachers. Plan on before school, after school or on a day the school gets out early. Teachers are usually there until normal dismissal time, even on early out days.

At the teacher meeting, ask to see a copy of the homework policy for the teacher, school or district, to get an overall picture. If one is not available, ask each teacher to explain their individual policy. There is much controversy around the merits of homework,and teachers approach this issue from their own personal beliefs and most homework practices vary greatly. Write their answers down for future reference. Ask the teachers what is their routine for assigning homework and on which days? If it seems like they are all assigning independently without collaboration, suggest teachers alternate days when assigning homework. For example:

math homework on Monday and Wednesday and science homework on Tuesday and Thursday. Unfortunately, some teachers don’t realize students are getting homework from 5 different teachers, unless someone tells them.

If your daughter is struggling in a particular subject area, express this to the teacher and ask if they are available for extra help. Arrange for your daughter to meet for extra tutoring, until she is caught up.

If after all of your efforts, your daughter is still receiving too much homework and struggling, make an appointment with the principal to reach a solution. The most important person is your child, so do not let the stress of homework take the joy of learning from her. Unless you articulate your concerns, teachers may never realize the effects their homework is having on your child or family life.

Although homework that is properly prepared and assigned may have merit, I believe six hours a day of academics are enough. Children need time to develop wholly by enjoying their family and friends and participating in after school sports or outside activities. I believe what children do during family time should be decided

by families, not by homework and schools.

Playa del Rey resident Genevieve Peters is an award winning teacher, behavioral consultant and creator and founder of Peters Procedures: A Protocol of Conduct. Genevieve gives teachers, principals, and parents a step by step plan to empower themselves and the children they love to their highest social and academic potential. Please submit questions regarding school, behavior challenges and bringing children to their highest potential to mspeters@mspeters.com.

Vi si t u s online at t he htn.com and l i ke us on Fa c e b o o k.c o m/ t h eh t n October 2013

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

Page 14

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

To make your business a drop-off location, please email us at westchesterhometown @ yahoo.com October 2013

We are in this together

By Councilman Mike Bonin Opinion: Sunday mornings. A great time to linger over the paper and a cup of coffee, have brunch with old friends, attend church with the family – or pull weeds and pick up trash under the hot sun.

Yup. Weeding, raking and picking up trash. That’s what 50 civic-minded neighbors and I did September 15, as part of a “Community Cleanup” along La Tijera Boulevard.

Putting neighborhoods first is a 24-7 proposition– and it takes a lot of teamwork.

We all deserve to have neighborhoods that look beautiful– and it takes partnership between the city and our residents to get the job done right.

Armed with shovels, rakes, brooms and bags, dozens of us picked up debris, swept up dirt, and got down on our hands and knees to pull weeds from the sidewalks of one of the gateways to Westchester. =Even though it was a scorcher of a day, young and old alike worked together and filled up more than 50 large garbage bags, which the city hauled off.

The impressive array of locals who helped out that morning are what gives Westchester such a great “hometown” feel. We had a group from the LA Conservation Corps: Clean & Green, students from Loyola Marymount University, members of the Westchester/ Playa Neighborhood Council, folks from the Westchester Rotary, Los Angeles Arts Collective, parents and Scouts from both Cub Scout Pack 824 and Boy Scouts Troop 915, and a few people who simply heard about the cleanup via Facebook.

Before the clean-up started, we had a Ward Cleaver moment. A father approached me and asked if I would pose for a picture with his son. Dad said

Councilman Bonin helps re-stripe 80th Street at Westlawn.

he wanted his kid to remember the day because the teenager was on cleanup duty so he could finish “working off a mistake” he had made the week before.

Community clean-ups are part of my hands-on and “back to basics” approach. I’m continuing to spend time filling potholes, trimming trees, and working alongside city crews to make sure we get work done in our neighborhoods. Just two weeks ago, I was painting a new crosswalk near Orville Wright Middle School and helping the Department of Transportation crew paint centerlines on 80th Street, near Westlawn.

A few weeks prior to my workday with the Department of Transportation, I attended a Westchester Homeowners

Association meeting where it was brought to my attention that a recently re-paved street had not yet been restriped. I promised the woman who let me know about the issue that not only would I make sure the job got done, I would do it myself. If I’m not getting my hands dirty, I’m not doing my job.

My staff and I, in coordination with our local neighborhood councils and civic organizations, will be organizing cleanups and service projects on a regular basis. If you’d like to get involved, please visit www.11thdistrict. com, call my office at (310) 568-8772 or email me at Councilmember.Bonin@ lacity.org. Thank you!

Why patience is a virtue

By Nora Lee Owens

Opinion: I have learned to slow down. No, seriously, I have. Sometimes that particular entree is handed to us on a plate that we didn’t order and don’t want anything to do with. But there it is, or was for me. For awhile, my right leg wouldn’t let me walk comfortably to the bathroom, let alone take me around the block. And guess what I wanted to do most in the whole world? I wanted to go hiking. I hate hiking. But the desire to stretch my legs and climb a hill was almost manic for me; thinking, wishing, planning.

Instead, I battened down the hatches (huh?) and stayed put most of the time at home, except for the times when I ventured out using a cane. The Dodgers came to my rescue by starting to win, and win, and win, and win. I started to feel that it was okay for me to be a couch potato because look at all the good luck I was bringing to my favorite

team in my favorite city in the world (sorry, New York; I love you, but I love The City of the Angels more).

Rome wasn’t built in a day, or so I’ve been hearing all my life. Who really knows, hasn’t Rome always been there?

So patience, physical therapy and a few well-placed injections and I discovered I could walk to the corner again. My dog is happier and I’ve lost the desire to scale a hill. But still I realize my gait is imperfect and now my most fond wish is to dance.

Meanwhile, I am trying to learn patience in another way. I’m trying to understand why it is taking us so blasted long in this country to do something about the proliferation of guns in the hands of people who hear voices or see visions– people who in another civilized society would be prohibited from buying a gun at all, or at least have such an urge slowed down a bit by a background check. Who knows, the person doing the checking

might even discover that the purchaser who heard those voices or saw those visions might possibly be wanted in 49 states, facts that even the stupidest among us would agree should preclude them from being able to put bullets in a gun and possibly shoot something other than a tin can on a fence.

Alas, I have a feeling that I may dance again long before the next violence-prone person is protected from hurting other people and themselves. Certainly if our guntoting lobby continues to have its way with members of Congress and those bobbleheads on cable news, I will probably be dancing the Tango while thinking I am the sexiest woman alive long before the smallest of background checks is allowed to happen at gun shows and pawn shops.

Right now though, I don’t have any more time to worry about gun violence for about a month. You take care of it while I watch the baseball playoffs.

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

The critical fitness month of October

By Jeff Blair Opinion: Everyone knows January is the most important fitness month, right? After all, that is when New Year’s resolutions are made. Or maybe it is May when the weather gets consistently warmer? Isn’t that the time when people really start to crank fitness activities up a bit?

While January and May both stake claim to being important fitness months, October is actually the most critical fitness month for several reasons.

As the days get shorter, people tend to get less active. Whether this is due to some biological response to shorter days or simply because shorter days make it less convenient to exercise, many decrease their fitness routines in October.

The holiday months are also coming.

Few people make fitness gains during the holidays, most people hope to simply maintain. Many tend to add a little weight from mid-November to December 31. Since many gain a few pounds during the holidays due to parties and other social events, staying active is especially important in October to avoid starting off behind the eight ball.

If you can avoid weight gain during October, you will be more likely to make reasonable choices during the

holiday months. If October gets off to a slow fitness start, you will be more likely to have a “what’s the use?” approach during the holidays.

Some people also experience energy and emotional swings during October as the days get shorter. Many experience some degree of feeling down during this period. This might also contribute to lower activity levels.

The good news is committing to simple exercise and nutrition choices can alleviate many of these concerns and even eliminate some of them.

For all these reasons, October is the critical fitness month. Rather than sit back and let things happen, take proactive steps to maintain or improve your fitness level during October. To make progress during October, take the following steps: 1. Start each day (or almost each day) with a 20-30 minute cardio session.

This can help you feel better and burn some extra calories. If you want to do more than that, feel free. However, a 2030 minute cardio session in the morning can help get your day started and it may also have an appetite suppressant effect.

Almost any type of cardio exercise will fit the bill, but remember even a walk can provide fitness benefits. You might also want to vary your cardio program to limit boredom. Ride a bike a couple

Page 15

days per week, walk a couple days per week and run a couple days per week (assuming you enjoy these activities).

expires November 1 so do not eat it after then! If you keep it in the house, you will eat it and regret it later.

2. Perform resistance-training exercises 2-3 times per week. By staying consistent with your resistance training, you will keep your metabolism elevated and you will feel and perform your best.

5. Look for ways to get fun “bonus” workouts such as hiking on a weekend trip or taking an early Sunday morning trip to the beach for a walk.

3. Some people experience a greater desire for higher calorie foods as the days get shorter. Take proactive steps to resist this tendency such as stocking up on vegetables and other low-calorie, high nutrient foods. Keep these stocked in your home and at your work. Before snacking on a heavy food, reach for a light snack first.

4. Avoid “thoughtless calories.” A number of fall events offer “thoughtless calories”- calories you consumer without really thinking about them. The most common example is the bread basket at a restaurant. When the waiter brings a bread basket, I hand it back and tell him “no thanks.” Why? If I do not get it off the table, I will mindlessly eat it to pass the time or simply because it is there. “Just say no” to the breadbasket.

Another example of thoughtless calories is leftover Halloween candy (either at work or at the office) eaten while sitting around the house. Leftover candy

6. Sleep is especially important this time of year. Put yourself on a steady and consistent sleep schedule. Sleep experts say most people need 7-9 hours of sleep per day. A consistent sleep schedule will make it easier to make better food and exercise choices as well.

While these are all moderate steps and many of us know these things, the key to all fitness success is doing more than knowing. Take these steps and experience a fit and fun October.

You can do it!

Before starting this or any fitness program, consult with your doctor.

JEFF BLAIR (M.S.) owns a personal training studio located in Westchester.

He was voted “Best Of” Personal Trainer in the Hometown News 2013Readers’ Poll. Jeff has been featured in “Men’s Fitness” magazine and as a “Fitness Expert” on ABC’s “Everyday Health” TV show. Email jeffblair@jeffblairfitness.com for fitness story ideas or comments.

Are you wearing a mask?

By Fay Craton Opinion: Have you ever been to a fair and watched a face painter create an elaborate mask on a child’s face?

For an afternoon, the child can become a dinosaur, a princess, butterfly, witch or some other imaginary being. While playing the child may act out the mannerisms of whatever creation is painted onto his or her face. If the child believes his painted character growls, he might run around growling. People playfully respond to the growls as if the child really is the creature painted onto his face. At the next bath, the created whimsy is washed away and normal behavior returns.

What if the painted face became permanent and the child forevermore believed he or she was a dinosaur?

With constant growling and dinosaur like behaviors, other people would start responding to the child as being different or strange. Relationships with other people would become difficult.

People would stop treating the child as a normal healthy child. How the child perceives the world would change based on how he or she is treated.

We could say this line of thought of imagining a painted face as becoming permanent is foolishness. What is not foolishness is that many people have perceptions about his or her self that might not be accurate. It is not unusual for clients to talk about being ugly, or

October 2013

stupid, or inadequate, or incapable, or some other variation of being less than another person. The person sharing these misconceptions might as well have an imaginary painted mask. The belief is not the truth. Yet, for a long period of time the person has reflected an attitude, behavior and speech through a faulty belief “filter.” People experience you through what you show

“Too often,instead of recognizing one’s own truth, people measure themselves against the strengths of another person.” them about yourself. If you are showing people a “faulty mask,” then they will treat you accordingly.

A circular pattern happens when a person acts as if he or she is inadequate and people treat him or her as being inadequate. Are you wearing a false mask? Do you have beliefs about yourself that keep you from sharing your personal truth?

Each person has within him or her perfection which can emerge as strengths and abilities which are uniquely their own. You express your

personal truth when you claim your own assets. Too often, instead of recognizing one’s own truth, people measure themselves against the strengths of another person. Of course, feelings of not being good enough will emerge. After all, you are overlooking your own strengths. Happiness requires embracing and accepting who you are!

What will it take for you to remove a false mask and to express from your own truth or what some people call “your authentic self?” To break the pattern requires breaking the false illusion. Are you ready to let go of beliefs and attitudes which do not serve you? This requires learning what your own strengths are, accepting them while simultaneously identifying long-held damaging beliefs and breaking the hypnotic habit they hold for you. When you do this, your experience of the world will change.

It is a deeply satisfying experience to embrace your authentic self. It is from your authentic self that you can experience joy. However, to do this you must be willing to do the work and accept change. Even a partial shift can increase your level of contentment.

One step to accomplish this goal is to start discovering and embracing your own strengths. Ask people around you what they think your strengths are.

Create a list from what they tell you.

Add to the list strengths you believe you have that have not been named by another person. When looking at the

list, which items most resonate with your heart? What most resonates could come from either the thoughts from others or from your own thoughts. Is there mind chatter telling you your list is all wrong? Or, is the internal chatter saying what your heart agrees with is not true. I call these things, “ya, buts.”

Write down the “ya, buts.” One by one look for evidence as to whether the “ya, but” is true. Also look for evidence that the “ya, but” is not true. Next, beside each one of your strengths list how it is true and how it is not true. Your strengths come from your authentic self. As you go through this process you will gain understanding about who you really are instead of being the person who has been wearing a false mask. You will be able to navigate toward something your heart is ready to express.

My wish for you is for you to embrace your authentic self. I wish for you to be happy and to thrive.

This means it is time to wash off any imaginary masks you may wear which do not serve you. It is time to step into knowing and expressing your own strengths.

Fay Craton, M.A. is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (mfc40011), which is the psychology license specializing in relationships (with ourselves or with others) and she has an office in Westchester. Contact her at (310) 645-6762.

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

Page 16

To Do

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

Rotary Club of Westchester The Rotary Club of Westchester meets every Wednesday at 12 noon for lunch at the Crowne Plaza LAX Hotel, 5985 W. Century Blvd. in Westchester. The cost of lunch is $20 and validated self parking is free. Guests are most welcome!

Reservations are not required.

For information regarding the upcoming luncheon programs, visit www.rotary-westchester.org or become our friend (Westchester Rotary) on Facebook.

Sage at (310) 397-3967.

Playa Vista Farmers’ Market Playa Vista Farmers’ Market Come out to the Playa Vista Farmers’ Market, located in the heart of Playa Vista. Open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and showcasing the freshest fruits, vegetables and flowers direct from the best local farmers’ California has to offer, as well as other traditional market fare. The farmers’ market also recently added another day to its schedule. The market will also be open on Wednesdays from 4 to 8 p.m.

This is a Certified Farmers’ Market sponsored by Sprouts of Promise Foundation, a 501(c) 3 non-profit focused on the education of healthy eating habits.

Westchester-Del Rey Republican Women’s Meeting Join the Westchester-Del Rey Republican Women on Tuesday, October 15 at 11 a.m. for its monthly meeting at KJ’s Diner and Restaurant, located at 8731 Lincoln Blvd. in Westchester. This month’s speaker will be Col. Michael Chene, Ret. (USMC).

The subject of Col. Chene’s talk will be the Middle East.

Cost for the luncheon is $17.50.

Reservations not required. Parking available.

For more info or to RSVP, please contact Carol at (310) 641-9726.

Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club Join the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club at its Wednesday morning meeting at 7:15 a.m. at the Marina Club Restaurant, located at 4333 Admiralty Way, Center Tower, 3rd Floor in Marina del Rey. The cost of the meeting is $25, which includes breakfast and a guest speaker. Guests are welcome and reservations are not required.

For more information, visit www. playasunrise.org or call (310) 4293808.

Speakers by the Sea Toastmaster’s Group Improve your public speaking skills every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. by joining the Speakers by the Sea Toastmaster’s Group. Visitors are always welcome- just drop in.

The meeting takes place at 12000 Vista del Mar in Conf. Room 230A in Playa del Rey (one traffic light South of Imperial Highway on Vista del Mar). For more info, please call (310) 559-2834.

Life-story Writing Class Thinking about writing your life story? Learn a simple method to recall and then write your memories. You are invited to our next meeting.

Since its inception, group members have published numerous books and are now working on a group collaboration for a seventh book.

Meetings are held every Wednesday morning from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the YMCA Annex,located at 8020 Alverstone Ave. in Westchester.

The donation to the YMCA is $12 a year.

For information, please call Mary

October 2013

Greyhound Show and Tell October 6 and every first Sunday of the month, greyhounds and volunteers from Fastfriends.org (nonprofit rescue group), will have a Greyhound Show and Tell from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Petco, located at 8801 S. Sepulveda in Westchester.

To see available adoptable dogs, go to Fastfriends.org and for more information, please contact Jim or Sharon Higgins at (310) 645-8143.

Elks Lodge celebrates “Oktoberfest” The Westchester Elks Lodge is having two fun events this month and both are open to the public. Saturday, October 5 celebrate Oktoberfest with music, brats, beer or offering a “Burgermeister package” for $25, which includes a German dinner, 2 drink tickets, 2 raffle tickets and a mug. Also, there will be their annual Halloween party on Saturday, October 26th. Festivities start at 8 p.m. with a DJ, dancing, costumes, free parking and no cover. Come to either event and see what the Elks Lodge is all about. A portion of proceeds will go to the Elks National Foundation, which supports scholarships, veteran programs, hoop shoots and drug awareness programs.

The Lodge is located at 8025 W. Manchester Ave. in Playa del Rey. Parking is in back.

For more information on any of these events or to RSVP for Oktoberfest, please call the Lodge at (310) 8213005.

Pizza Cooking Class Learn how to make fresh pizzas in a flash at a cooking class at Holy Nativity Church. Whether you are cooking for yourself or many more, you will learn how to make this American party food the easy way with fresh ingredients.

Bring the kids and get them involved in making the meal.

The Pizza Party will take place on Wednesday, October 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Holy Nativity Community Hall, located at 6700 Emerson Ave. in Westchester.

Learn how to make the one-minute pizza dough along with a true Neapolitan Pizza with “00” flour and taste the difference between these doughs. With hot pizza stones and

a paddle, we will try out some new unique variations on America’s favorite food. Bring your creativity and sense of adventure to this class for the whole family.

Patricia K. Rose of Fresh Food in a Flash will lead this hands-on cooking class. Once the class is done cooking, sit down and enjoy a meal you and your new friends made together with a glass of wine.

The class fee is $40 when you reserve a spot by October 7 and $45 at the door. The fee for children under 12 to participate is $20 when accompanied by an adult. To reserve your spot or for more information, please email Patricia@FreshFoodinaFlash.com.

Westchester-Playa Democratic Club Meeting The Westchester-Playa Democratic Club will feature an evening of discussion on the highly charged topic of Syria, and the tangle of issues related to events unfolding in this country that challenge President Obama, Congress and the American people.

The meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 23 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend. There is no charge to attend and parking is free.

The meeting will be held in the Bristol Hall Room, IHOP Restaurant, located at 8600 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Westchester.

For more information about this event, please contact the WestchesterPlaya Democratic Club at (424) 2251504 or visit westchesterplayademclub. org.

Townhall Meeting with Congresswoman Maxine Waters Congresswoman Maxine Waters will hold a townhall meeting Saturday, October 5 starting at 9:30 a.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, located at 6323 W. 80th Street in Westchester.

Congresswoman Waters will be on hand to discuss implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the impacts of sequestration, the future of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and other issues affecting people living in her district.

For more information, please contact Congresswoman Waters’ Los Angeles office at (323) 757-8900.

Alternative Giving Expo Westchester United Methodist Church is having an Alternative Giving Expo on Sunday, October 20 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 8065 Emerson Ave. in Westchester in Fellowship Hall.

Instead of another tie, buy chickens for a third world family from Heifer Project or support Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, Heal the Bay, or Scouts in honor of someone who “has everything.” Plus no shipping hassles!

Also learn about different volunteer opportunities available. For more information, please call (310) 6703777.

Tapping the Third Realm Exhibit A large group exhibition, Tapping the Third Realm, presents the work of thirty-four artists who deal with ideas of spirituality through four main avenues: conjuring, communication, collaboration and chance. It explores how artists tap into another dimension, whether it be a place of spirits, ideas of heaven, or the collective unconscious.

Elements of magic, witchcraft, and profound attention or intuition are evident in the artists’ creative processes. This exhibition is curated by Meg Linton, Director of Galleries and Exhibitions, Ben Maltz Gallery, Otis College of Art and Design and Carolyn Peter, Director and Curator, Laband Art Gallery, Loyola Marymount University.

Tapping the Third Realm spans two neighboring galleries in Westchester — Ben Maltz Gallery at Otis and Laband Art Gallery at LMU. The artwork is different at each location.

The Otis Ben Maltz Gallery is located at 9045 Lincoln Blvd. in Westchester.

The LMU Laband Art Gallery is located at 1 LMU Drive in Westchester. Please visit otis.edu/benmaltzgallery and cfa. lmu.edu/labandgallery for more info.

Parenting Series at Loyola Village Kids have you stressed? Attend a free parenting series workshop presented by Linda Marten, MSW and sponsored by Loyola Village Elementary PTA. The series will discuss helpful tools for dealing with homework, learning styles, coping skills and take-home resources. The two-part workshops will take place October 8 and 22 from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. or October 14 and October 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Loyola Village is located at 8821 Villanova Ave. in Westchester. Please RSVP for this event by calling the school’s office at (310) 670-0480.

Messiah Concert Looks for Singers The Worship, Art and Music Commission of Westchester Lutheran Church is looking for singers (no experience necessary) for its 44th Annual Messiah Concert to be held on Thanksgiving weekend, Sunday, December 1 at 4 p.m. The concert directed by Marshall Ramirez features professional solo vocal artists, a large chorus of singers from local area choirs and a 20-piece orchestra For more information, please contact the church office at (310) 670-5422.

How to submit a listing for the To Do/Calendar section

1. Write-up your event in paragraph format (no abbreviations please!).

2. Submissions must be received by the 22nd of the month to be considered.

3. Please include contact

information and the cost for your event, if there is one.

4. Email us the event at westchesterhometown@yahoo. com attention: calendar

* Due to the volume of submissions received, we can not include all events.

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

Page 17

COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS

October

Sunday Monday Tuesday

Wednesday Wednesday

Thursday Thursday

Friday Friday

NCWP Meeting @ Westchester Community Room Gateway to Go @ Crowne Plaza LAX “Tapping the Third Realm @ Ben Maltz and Laband Gallery (through Dec. 8)

2 Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey

School Tour @ WNS Parenting Series @ Loyola Village School

6

7 Parenting Series @ Loyola Village School

13

14

Open House @ Westchester Family YMCA

8

Fligh Path Gala @ Flight Path Museum

Townhall featuring Congresswoman Waters @ Covenant Presbyterian Church Blessing of the Animals @ St. Anastasia Church

4

“Little Shop of Horrors” @ Westchester Playhouse

Gateway to Go @ Crowne Plaza LAX

Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey

Westchester-Del Rey Republican Women’s Meeting @ KJ’s Diner

Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park

Gateway to Go @ Crowne Plaza LAX South Pacific Evening @ CenterPointe Club

20

21 Parenting Series @ Loyola Village School

Literary Trick or Treating @ Hannon Library

22 Gateway to Go @ Crowne Plaza LAX School Tour @ WNS

27

28

10

Farmers’ Market @ Playa Vista “Little Shop of Horrors”@ Westchester Playhouse

29

16 Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey

11

17 School Tour @ WNS

18

Halloween Maze @ Westchester Park

Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park

First Horror Animation Festival @ LMU

Westchester-Playa Democratic Club @ IHOP

Varsity Football Youth Day @ St. Bernard

23 Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park

24

19

Halloween Maze @ Westchester Park

25

26

Halloween Halloween Maze @ Westchester Park

Halloween Spooktacular Event @ YMCA

Halloween Kid Zone @ Westchester Park

Halloween Maze @ Westchester Park

Hallowen Fiesta @ Otis

30

12

“Little Shop of Horrors” Closing Night at “Little @ Westchester Playhouse Shop of Horrors” @ Westchester Carnival @ Playhouse St. Jerome Church Carnival @ Homecoming @ St. Jerome Church St. Bernard Moonlight on the Marsh @ CenterPointe Club

Literary evening with Alicia Gaspar de Alba @ LMU

15

5

Fall Family Festival @ Open Magnet Charter School

9

Silver Seminar Series Workshop @ Westchester YMCA Annex

Alternative Giving Expo @ Westchester United Methodist

October 2013

“Little Shop of Horrors”@ Westchester Playhouse

Pizza Cooking Class @ Holy Nativity

“Little Shop of Horrors”@ Westchester Playhouse

Fall Day of Fun @ LA Arts Collective

Farmers’ Market @ Playa Vista

3

Life story Writing Class @ YMCA Annex

Blessing of the Animals @ Holy Nativity

“Little Shop of Horrors” @ Westchester Playhouse

First Friday @ 87th Street & Truxton Ave.

Championship of Youth Gala @ Ritz Carlton

1

Greyhound Show and Tell @ Petco

Saturday Saturday

31

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

Page 18

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This Playa del Rey home will be featured on this year’s home tour.

Mental Health Guild prepares for Annual Holiday Home Tour The Westchester Mental Health Guild will hold its 31st Annual Holiday Home Tour on Sunday, November 3 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The tour will feature five homes in the Westchester/Playa del Rey area, decorated for the holidays.

The homes this year include an Italianate resort villa with endless views; a luxurious mansion on the Playa del Rey bluffs with every modern convenience; a charming and authentic craftsman-style home; a two-story spa-like Westchester view home and a beautifully renovated traditional Westchester bungalow.

Tickets for the home tour can be purchased at The Guilded Cage Gift Shop, located at 8917-B South Sepulveda Boulevard in Westchester.

Tickets are $30 in advance.

Tickets can also be purchased online at wmhg2013tour.eventbrite. com. Day-of-event tickets are $35 and will be available at the Elks Lodge, located at 8025 Manchester Ave. in Playa del Rey. Children

under 12 years old are free when accompanied by an adult.

Home Tour ticket holders are also invited to attend a reception and enjoy holiday shopping at the Guilded Cage gift boutique from noon to 5 p.m., also at the Elks Lodge. For more information, please call The Guilded Cage at (310) 6417850.

The Holiday Home Tour is the Guild’s largest fundraiser. Net proceeds from this event support Airport Marina Counseling Service (AMCS). AMCS provides thousands of hours of child, adult and family counseling services annually to people in our community. Hundreds of children, adults and families are treated weekly. The clinic has established outreach programs to local elementary and high schools, providing therapy and preventive intervention.

For further information about AMCS, access its website at www. airportmarina.org.

Vergari & associates attorneys & counselors at law

Our staff strives to build long term relationships with our clients

Wishes you a

Happy Halloween!

We are committed to providing professional services with integrity

And hopes you will call us for your next event!

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

Page 22

In Pictur es

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

Welcome, Change!

Start the theCelebrate New Year Year looking lookingFreedom! in the the right right direction...Up! direction...Up! Start New in

Celebra Start the New Year Year lo lo Start the New Westchester Lutheran has made a major schedule change. Sunday School for preschool through sixth grade is now held concurrently with our 10 from a.m. service.

Freedom from doubt. Freedom fear.

Children still participate in worship, and then step out with a team of Westchester dedicated teachers for focusedChurch, lessons Join us at Lutheran during the second half of the service.

Star theNewYearlo kingintherightdirection. Up! and embrace the freedom found in a loving, forgiving relationship with the We’ve made this change in the hope that it will make Join friends itLord. easier for younew and your familyin to a joincelebration us for the trueof everything that is possible when you live change that comes from worshiping God regularly –a in harmony with theyour Word. change that will unburden heart and lift your spirits.

And we have other activities throughout the week to help you and your family develop a closer relationship with the Lord and with a community of active, welcoming believers.

All are welcome.

Come celebratewith withus.us!

Join us.Change Come lookwith up with with us. are welcome.

Come look up us.

Grow us. All

Worship Weekly Weekly Worship and Sunday School, Sundays Sundays at at 10 10 a.m. a.m.

Summer Choir Rehearsal Sundays at 9 a.m.

Confirmation, High School & Adult Sunday School, Sundays at 8:45 a.m.

Vacation Bible School 29-August 2 Midweek Bible Study, Wednesdays atJuly 7 p.m.

On This Rock/Friday Night Youth Fellowship, Fridays at 7 p.m.

“Little Shop of Horrors.” “Little Shop of Horrors” is now playing at the Westchester Playhouse. The rock musical will run through October 19 with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. with Sunday matinées at 2 p.m.

The Westchester Playhouse is located at 8301 Hindry Ave. in Westchester. To purchase tickets, please call (310) 645-5156 or purchase tickets online at www. kentwoodplayers.org. PHOTO BY ROY OKIDA.

7831 S. Sepulveda Blvd.

Westchester, CA 90045 310.670.5422 www.wlcs.org

Freed Students giving back. Students at St. Anastasia started the school year by collecting notebooks, backpacks, paper, pens and pencils to donate to children at Alexandria House. The organization provides a transitional residence and safe and supportive housing for women and children in the process of moving from emergency shelter to permanent housing.

WPV would like to thank the Westchester Sr. Center, Mt. St. Mary’s College, Westchester Certified Farmers’ Market, Ralphs/Food 4 Less, Von’s Westchester, and Renate and Lloyd Hild for their support!

October 2013

Join u and e loving Lord. every in ha

Community clean-up. A community clean-up organized by Councilman Mike Bonin’s office was held on September 15 along La Tijera. Dozens of volunteers from the NCWP, Boy Scout troop 824, the Westchester Rotary, LMU and the community worked together pulling weeds, cleaning up debris and sweeping the sidewalk to help beautify the street.

We want to see you “In Pictures!”

Email us your photos at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com

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

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In Loving Memory...

Polly Garstka

Kids Need Heroes. The Westchester Family YMCA held its annual Kids Need Heroes event on Thursday, September 26. The event honored Peter Mitsakos as the “Hero of the Year” for his work designing and overseeing the YMCA’s new welcome center. John Ruhlen was presented with the “Community Pillar” award for his work with the Westchester Streetscape Improvement Association and his dedication to beautification efforts in Westchester.

For the first time this year, the H.B. Drollinger Award was presented at the YMCA event. This year’s honoree was Denny Schneider. Schneider was given the award for his work with ARSAC and other community groups. The award comes with a $5,000 donation to the charities of the honoree’s choice. It was announced at the event that Schneider would match the donation and make contributions to the Westchester Family YMCA, Westchester Neighbors Association’s legal fund, Airport Marina Counseling Service and City of Hope.

Marty Francis was also recognized with the inaugural “Jewel of Westchester” award. The award is given by the Drollinger Family Charitable Trust and is named after Jewel Drollinger. The award will be presented each year to someone who has made notable contribution to the community, although often quietly hidden in the intricate work done behind the scenes. LMU Professor Eric Strauss was the keynote speaker at the event. Pictured left to right: Peter Mitsakos, Marty Francis, Karen Bradley Follette, Madeleine Mamaux, John Ruhlen, Jim Drollinger, Karen Dial and Denny Schneider. PHOTO BY BILL BALLERINI, BCS STUDIOS.

C elebrating 20 years i

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Polly Garstka, wife of John Garstka, proud mother of five children and grandmother of sixteen, and active Westchester community leader, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on September 24th, 2013. While she lost a short but valiant battle with cancer, she lived a very generous, productive and fulfilling life, built on the foundation of very strong Christian faith and values.

Pauline Ann LeClair was born on October, 6th, 1934 in Southbridge, Massachusetts, the second daughter of Joseph H. LeClair and Margaret Matilda (nee) McGee. She earned a B.S. at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and soon after a M.A. at Syracuse University, where she met her future husband, John A. Garstka.

John’s career in the Air Force took them to Japan, Alabama, Hawaii and Los Angeles.

Polly spent 44 years living in and becoming an active member of the community while raising her children.

A strong believer in the public school system, Polly was an active leader in the PTAs at Cowan Avenue Elementary School, Orville Wright Junior High School, and Westchester High School.

During this period she was also involved with the American Field Service (AFS) and hosted students from Luxembourg and Costa Rica.

As her children entered secondary school, Polly returned to the workplace.

Polly dedicated the majority of her professional career to the Los Angeles Community College system. Along the way, she earned a Doctorate in Educational Administration from Pepperdine University. She retired in 1998 as the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Los Angeles Trade Technical College.

We are celebrating our anniversary throughout October.

Come visit us for vendor specials and other fantastic surprises!

WEDNESDAYS

8:30 AM - 1:30 PM Westchester Park (Intersection of Lincoln Blvd. & La Tijera across from Otis College) www.westchesterfarmersmarket.com Follow us at Facebook.com/westchesterfarmersmarket Sponsored by the Westchester Vitalization Corporation

October 2013

In 1983 Polly became involved in supporting the Airport Marina Counseling Service (AMCS), a mental health organization whose mission she was passionate about – to serve those seeking help, with no one turned away for lack of funds. She served in a variety of volunteer capacities and was elected President of the Board of Directors in 1985-1987. She was a relentless fundraiser, initiating with others in 1985 and leading for over 29 years what became the major AMCS fund-raising event, the Jet-to-Jetty 10K race.

In addition, Polly served as a volunteer with the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Foster Children (CASA); Grandparents and Books, the Los Angeles Public Library reading program for children; and the

Travelers Aid Society of Los Angeles.

She also served as a Docent with the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, as a consultant with the Executive Service Corps of Southern California, as a volunteer and fundraiser with the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) supporting women, and was a member of Nichi Bei Fujin Kai (Japanese American Women’s Club).

Polly and John celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2009. Polly was the cornerstone and generous matriarch of a large and loving family, in which she took great pride. She and John traveled frequently and widely to visit their children and grandchildren. Polly orchestrated multiple family reunions, consciously investing to reinforce strong familial bonds and to create very strong personal relationships between her grandchildren.

Polly leaves behind a devoted and loving husband, five children and 16 grandchildren -- John and Diane Garstka of Springfield VA, with four children John Jr., Matthew, Andrew and Sara; Michael Garstka and Lucy Fisher of London, UK, with three children Harry, Benjamin and Anna; Margaret and John Bailey of Danvers, MA, with three children James, Lily, and Rose; Stephen and Therese Garstka of Vienna, VA, with three children Bodi, Emilie, and Olivia; and Mary and Cliff Moran of Springfield, VA, with three children David, Elizabeth and Kathryn.

A viewing will be held Friday, October 4th between 5:00 and 8:00 PM, with a rosary at 7:30 pm at Holy Cross Mortuary in Culver City, CA. Her funeral mass will be held Saturday, October 5th, at 10:00 am at Visitation Catholic Church in Westchester with a reception immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, her family would request donations in her name to the Airport Marina Counseling Center: www.airportmarina.org.

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

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NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL OF WESTCHESTER / PLAYA Previous Community Improvement and Neighborhood Purposes Grants 2012-2013 Emerson Avenue Community Garden Westchester Enriched Magnet School (Aquatics farm project) Pacific Graffiti Solutions (Graffiti abatement) People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) Westchester Park Pre School Renovation

Neighborhood Council Seeks Project Grant Applicants The Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa is pleased to announce that funding is available for 2014 Community Improvement and Beautification projects, and Neighborhood Purposes Grants for 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations and public schools. Your application must be received by January 15, 2014. Funding will be awarded following consideration and approval by the NCWP board at its March 4, 2014 meeting.

Individuals and organizations within the Westchester/Playa community (which includes Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista) are encouraged to submit proposals to be considered by the NCWP Board for final approval as a Community Improvement or Neighborhood Purposes Grant. Applications can be found on our website at www.ncwpdr.org, or at Westchester Loyola Village Library and the Playa Vista Library.

The following are the program guidelines:

2011-2012 Westchester Park (Movie in the Park) Westchester Park (Main stage for Park Festival) LAPD Pacific Area Boosters (Winter Wonderland) Pacific Graffiti Solutions (Graffiti abatement) Chrysalis (weed abatement and cleaning on Manchester and La Tijera) People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) Westchester Playa Village Network Emerson Avenue Community Garden

Criteria for the Community Improvement and Neighborhood Purposes Grant selection a. Funding shall be for projects designed to improve the quality of life in the Westchester/Playa community b. Funding shall be for a specific activity, physical item(s), improvement project, community or education event, or beautification project. Funding shall not include general donations to community organizations’ operating funds, be for the benefit of private organizations or private property, etc. Funding shall conform to all guidelines set forth by the City of Los Angeles regarding Neighborhood Council funding proposals. c. Funding will be for projects to be implemented in 2014.

2010-2011 Westchester Park Recreation Center Renovation Westchester Playa Village Network Flight Path Learning Center Loyola Village School Boosters People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) Peters Procedures (Orville Wright Middle School) Westchester Park – Movie in the Park

Funding proposal shall provide: a. Project Description b. Statement of Public Benefit c. Itemized Project Budget d. Sources of an additional funding e. Timeline for how money will be spent f. Organization or person responsible for carrying out project g. If work is to be completed by an organization not affiliated with the City of Los Angeles: • Completed W-9 Form • Valid City of Los Angeles Business Tax Registration Certificate

2009-2010 LAPD Pacific Area Boosters (Explorer Program) Westchester Park Pre School improvements People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) Middle School Youth Summit (Orville Wright M.S.) Tables and chairs for Westchester Community Room 2008-2009 LAUSD School Supplies LAFD (tools, drills, counter tops, computer equipment) Seniors Center (pool table repair) Seniors Center (Wii) Pacific Graffiti Solutions (Graffiti abatement) Middle School Youth Summit (Orville Wright M.S.) Sepulveda Blvd Tree Lights So Cal Landscaping (Imperial Hwy Trees to the Sea)

Organization or individual will provide appropriate means for public recognition of NCWP involvement in project.

Special emphasis in choosing recipients of grants will be placed on projects whose needs are immediate, having the greatest benefit to the community and whose resources for alternative funding are limited.

Individual requests should be limited to $1,500 Selection of CI Projects and Grant Proposals a. NCWP Budget and Finance Committee will review proposals, and present to the Board a list of grant candidates for approval. b. Final projects shall be presented to the NCWP Board for approval at the March 4, 2014 meeting. c. NCWP Treasurer will coordinate with grant candidate and appropriate NCWP committee representatives the exact form and time of payment, based on the criteria of the project.

www.ncwpdr.org October 2013

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