C. Paul Wazzan and Pres. Dawn Eash Wazzan, and Rebecca and Tyler Mellos. 3
ST. PATRICK’S DAY. Bergin’s celebrates 90th anniversary in 98-degree heat. 2-9
permit:
Mayor race heats up as primary nears
n Adam Miller tells us why he wants to be next mayor of L.A.
Several candidates have thrown their hats in the ring to unseat incumbent Karen Bass for the city’s top job in the Tue., June 2, primary. The Chronicle will continue candidate coverage next month.
By A.R. Johnstone
Adam Miller was the CEO of a publicly traded company he founded in his one-bedroom apartment and turned into a $5.2 billion enterprise. He was blessed enough to be able to exit that company comfortably. Instead of resting on his laurels, he decided that he wanted to give back and make Los Angeles better. We asked the Brentwood resident about his experience running charitable organizations, and why
Community groups work on housing bill
By Jack Brownlee
Senate Bill 79 continues to be a hot topic, generating lots of controversy among local community groups in the area. SB79 upzones land within one-half mile of major transit stops, giving housing developers access to lots previously barred from development and expediting the construction process.
DESIGN FOR LIVING
Our annual home and lifestyle section will be featured in the May issue of the Larchmont Chronicle Living for all Ages, which will highlight the young at heart, will also be featured in May. Advertising deadline is Mon., April 6. To reserve space, call 323462-2241, ext. 11, or email jesse@larchmontchronicle. com or sandy@larchmont chronicle.com.
Meteorologist explains our ‘winter’ weather
By H. Hutcheson
Despite some torrential rains early on this winter, SoCal is experiencing La Niña conditions. On the one hand this drier weather pattern hints at the possibility of drought and wildfires later in the year, but on the other it fills our winters with unusually warm days while our friends out east have had nothing less than a brutally cold winter. Autumn Robertson, morning weekday meteorologist of Spectrum News 1’s SoCal team, spoke
with us once again—this time to discuss the weather event known as La Niña with its warm, dry winters.
I understand La Niña brings L.A. winters that are dryer than average.
La Niña years can absolutely impact Southern California’s winters with drier weather, as they have in the past. However, as we’ve seen this year, a dry winter is not always promised! The El Niño—Southern Oscillation, or ENSO for short, is a sea-
By Jon Vein
Los Angeles is trying to solve a 75,000-person crisis with $700,000 apartments— and it isn’t working.
Tens of thousands of people remain on the streets while the city spends years building a relatively small number of extremely expensive housing units. The issue is not a lack of effort. It is a mismatch between the scale of the crisis and the strategy being used to address it.
If Los Angeles had unlimited resources, the solution would be straightforward. The city could invest heavily in prevention, build large amounts of long-term affordable housing, expand permanent supportive housing for those who are elderly or severely disabled, fund treatment and recovery programs, and create enough interim housing so that no one ever had to live on the street.
That is the full toolkit—and all of it matters. But Los Angeles does not have unlimited resources. And when resources are limited, the math matters. Priorities matter. Timing matters.
For years, the city’s ap-
Program helps repopulate the Pacific
By H. Hutcheson
Earth Day falls on April 22. Founded in 1970 by U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson, it marked the start of the modern environmental movement, raising awareness and leading to the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency the same year. This issue the Chronicle looks at a few individuals for whom everyday is Earth Day and who involve themselves in environmentally conscious activities, businesses, and education.
Torin Anderson of Leimert Park loves to fish. “It’s the closest thing I know that can slow time down. It keeps me sane— or halfway sane!” He made the choice to ease out of corporate life and spend more time in
BLOOM at Page Academy. 11
NGA members get inspired. 8
JLLA
Editorial
By Chronicle Editorial Board
Spring has sprung— let’s have fun
The clocks have changed, flowers are blooming, and it’s already really hot. Spring is here and seems to have arrived overnight. One thing that should occupy more of our time is fun. With the explosion of social media and continuous connectivity, people seem to spend far more time fretting and worrying and far less time enjoying the great aspects of our city.
The mainstream news deliberately focuses on stories which will get people’s attention—in other words, clickbait. It’s not often that the focus is on the items that may seem flippant but actually make you smile. True, there are many things happening locally, nationally, and globally which deserve coverage and attention.
But our whole day does not need to be filled with negativity. The social media echo chamber will perpetuate the feeling, so it’s up to all of us to find beauty, whether that be in nature, seeing live music, or watching a child’s sporting event (or even participating in a sport or activity oneself). Spring is here—you deserve a break.
325 N. Larchmont Boulevard, #158 Los Angeles, California 90004 windsorsquare.org
157 N. Larchmont Boulevard
“April prepares her green traffic light, and the world thinks, ‘Go!’”
Christopher Morley
SAVE THE DATE!: The Windsor Square Association will be co-hosting a candidate forum with the four candidates for CD13 Councilmember: Colter Carlisle, Rich Sarian, Hugo Soto-Martinez and Dylan Kendall. Please plan to join us via Zoom on Thursday, April 23rd at 7:00 PM for a lively debate and discussion with the candidates. Please visit windsorsquare.org/cd13forum for updates and information on how to register for this informative event.
o o o
LET THERE BE LIGHT!: Street lighting has returned to several blocks in Windsor Square. Months of coordinated monitoring and reporting by the WSA led to the prioritization of our neighborhood and dedication of funding from CD13. We are pleased with the progress, but more still needs to be done!
o o o
REPORT STREET LIGHT OUTAGES: The WSA continues to track street light outages throughout Windsor Square so that they can be properly reported and scheduled for repair. If your street is experiencing an outage, please report it by visiting windsorsquare.org/report-streetlight-issue and forward the confirmation email you receive to blockcaptains@windsorsquare.org and CD13 representative Mark Fuentes mark.fuentes@lacity.org.
o o o
“ARE YOU PREPARED?”: The WSA’s one-pager on preparing yourself, your family and your home for an emergency is now available online. Download your copy at windsorsquare.org/emergency o o o
WE NEED BLOCK CAPTAINS!: Be the leader of your block and the point person for all that’s going on in your neighborhood. The WSA has several block captain positions open. This is a great opportunity to engage with neighbors and community leaders. blockcaptains@windsorsquare.org
The Windsor Square Association, an all-volunteer group of residents from 1100 households between Beverly and Wilshire and Van Ness and Arden, works to preserve and enhance our beautiful neighborhood.
325 N. Larchmont Blvd., #158, Los Angeles, CA 90004, or windsorsquare.org.
Sun., March 29— Palm Sunday.
Tue., March 31— César Chávez Day.
Wed., April 1—First night of Passover and April Fools’ Day. Fri., April 3—Good Friday. Sun., April 5—Easter.
Mon., April 13— Yom Hashoah begins at sundown.
Tue., April 14—Mid City West Neighborhood Council board meeting, 6:30 p.m., via Zoom, midcitywest.org.
Wed., April 15— Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council board meeting, 6:30 p.m., The Ebell of Los Angeles, 743 S. Lucerne Blvd., greater-
wilshire.org; Tax Day. Wed., April 22—Earth Day. Thu., April 23—Delivery of the May edition of the Larchmont Chronicle
by Finn Walker Instagram @finnwalkersart
CORRECTION
Photo credit due In last month’s issue, the photo credit was omitted in the Youth Sports column “Area volleyball players compete at Callum Classic.”
Larchmont Chronicle
Founded
champs
and Dylan Feakins.
Protecting victims
‘Do you have travel plans for spring break?’
That’s the question our inquiring photographer asked locals.
“We are staying in Los Angeles for spring break. We will have playdates, go to the beach, and visit the Huntington Library.”
“These days there are so many flight delays, so we want to stay in California and visit beaches in Huntington or San Diego.”
and
“Malibu for the whole week! We go to the beach, swim in the pool, and we look for whales—one in particular named Wally.”
Circulation
Digital
606 N. Larchmont Blvd., #103 Los Angeles, CA
larchmontchronicle.com
In the March issue, the article “Team works to end prostitution on Western Ave.” incorrectly noted that Assembly Bill 535 “makes the intimidation and bullying of a sex worker a crime,” when in fact the law focuses on domestic violence cases. AB 535 protects victims and witnesses against intimidation before and during a trial. Countdown to L.A. events:
Letters? Write us at letters@larchmontchronicle.com. Include your name, contact information and where you live.
Camilla Gabrieli and Luca Jolliffe
Sarah Kim, Loha Kim,
Isaac Park
Candace and Charlie Carroll
CALLUM CLASSIC directors Sam Plant (left) and Callum McLachlan with friend Zachary Patawaran (behind).
TEAM
Plants vs. Zombies (left to right): Tim Plant, Oliver Ward, Sam Plant,
Photos by Kaylee Nakagawa
Junior League of Los Angeles celebrates its 100th
By Sondi Toll Sepenuk
The big moment finally arrived! After a year of buildup, featuring multiple smaller celebratory fundraising functions, the Junior League of Los Angeles hit the big time with its epic March 21st finale—a rip-roarin’ Centennial Gala at the historic downtown California Club to celebrate decades of service and community to the greater Los Angeles area. Members, supporters, family, and friends were treated to a seated dinner, live entertainment, curated auction items, and plenty of speeches and remembrances of decades past.
The evening was a reflection on the legacy that brought the League to where it is today, a celebration of everything they have achieved together, and a look ahead to the century to come.
For a little background, the Junior League began as the Convalescent Children’s
League in 1925. CCL started as an operation to support a 12-bed children’s convalescent home on Ingraham Street, which later became part of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The founding group was then admitted to the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) in 1926 and formally became the Junior League of Los Angeles.
The work that JLLA has done through the years is almost too much to contain in one article. From the 1927 Players Group, which currently performs for over 9,000 local children, to the 1939 Radio and Television Committee
“Tell Me a Story” network radio program in tandem with the public library and board of education, to the 1961 Opportunity Open Door program designed to broaden academic and cultural horizons of cul-
turally deprived students, to the 1980 Victim Assistance project (co-sponsored by the District Attorney’s office) to aid victims of violent crime, to the 2014 decision to expand their mission to focus on foster youth and families, to the annual Harvest Boutique fundraiser, which has been up and running for 26 years raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the JLLA’s areas of focus; the League has made
an incredibly huge impact on the city of Los Angeles.
If you’ve never heard of the Junior League, or what they do, now is a great opportunity to get informed. The JLLA’s mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. With the culmination of 100 years, the League’s promise is to commit itself to another century
of those values, as well as promoting and sharing the values of women’s empowerment, leadership, community service, and diversity. Thousands of women have volunteered and committed their lives to the League throughout the decades, and many of their projects have changed the landscape and the face of community service throughout Los Angeles.
JLLA PRESIDENTS of past, present, and future gathered at The California Club to celebrate the League’s Centennial Gala.
A CLASSIC BIG BAND drew guests from cocktails and a silent auction into the dining room.
Earth day
(Continued from Page 1)
the “reel world,” where he is on the board of directors of both Marina Del Rey Anglers Fishing Club and the South L.A. Chapter of the Costal Conservation Association. He even works at Sav-on Tackle in Santa Fe Springs—the 74-year-old business is one of the oldest and biggest tackle shops in L.A.—to be close to his passion.
On a kayak, a charter boat, on shore or off, lakes, oceans, rivers—any sort of fishing,—Anderson is your man. His favorite fish to catch are white seabass from the Pacific Ocean around the Channel Islands. Overfished by commercial fishermen, they suffered historic population lows in the late 1900s, which prompted Hubbs Seaworld Research Institute to work on repopulating the ocean with the species through aqua-culture support. That is where
SUSTAINABLE FISHERY helps once endangered fish
Anderson decided he could make a difference.
For more than eight years he has volunteered with the group Pen Pals through MDRA and in partnership with CCA and Hubbs to support the population of his favorite fish. “I give back so I can keep having fun,” he said.
“The fish arrive to us in October at about three inches long. My jobs include feeding them and doing maintenance on the pens. As volunteers we also do a good deal of recording growth, water temperature, and deaths of any fish who are finally chipped for research. Release day was
early this year, March 5, because of their unusually fast growth in 2026. They were crowded into a pen and transferred to a bait tank on the sports fishing boat, the Betty O (which is over 100 years old and happens to be the same boat we will fish from later!). We successfully sent out 1,458 white seabass. That night, at the dock, we released more from the containment gates without predation as we shielded them from hungry sea lions. They swam out to populate the Pacific.”
A report in 2022 that involved Hubbs and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said that white seabass from Southern California release programs are a huge success environmentally with 30 percent of wild caught adult fish being from the hatchery. “Conservation is key,” said Anderson. “We have to give back in order to continue to receive.”
Fair winds, Mr. Anderson!
Earth Day benefits through local student
By H. Hutcheson
Another “planet hero” on this Earth Day is local student Avery Sangster, a student at Marlborough Hancock Park’s oldest all-girls, college-preparatory private school. Among its many academic departments, the high school offers The Leonetti/O’Connell Honors Research in Science program headed by Allison Ponzio, Ph.D., which Sangster is part of. Ponzio explained, “The program offers students the opportunity to participate in hands-on research in a STEM+ subject for which they have an inherent passion. Students conduct their research projects in an academic laboratory setting or collect data on campus for one to two years, receiving guidance and supervision from a professional research
mentor and Marlborough faculty, which results in deep, meaningful scholarship.”
I asked Sangster to tell us more:
Earth Day is coming up in April. Are you doing research that you think pertains?
I am a senior and in my second year of the Marlborough (Please turn to Page 6)
skin deep
by Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald
Rounding the corner toward summer prompts certain grooming practices to come back into play. Now is the ideal time to prep for a sunny season free of shaving and bothering with razor bumps and skin irritation.
Check check check on the top three considerations skin care professionals and patients alike have for laser hair removal: faster application time, increased comfort and appropriate for all skin shades. Lutronic Clarity II delivers on all three and then some. Higher energy and a wider range of pulse widths plus real-time feedback on skin temperature ensures that hair removal on larger regions goes more quickly and painlessly, and even targets fine hair on all complexions.
Our Nurse Practitioner, Angela, has over 10 years of experience with laser hair removal on all skin types and laser hair removal is one of the most frequent procedures she performs every day. Some tips from her to help you get the most out of your treatments include avoiding tanning and self-tanner and no plucking or waxing at least 4 weeks prior to treatment. You can shave or trim the hair, and its best to shave 1-2 days before your appointment.
Most patients will receive optimal results with six to eight treatments spread out so we advise contacting us now. Next up: gel pedicure please!
Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald is a Board Certified Dermatologist located in Larchmont Village with a special focus on anti-aging technology. She is a member of the Botox Cosmetic National Education Faculty and is an international Training Physician for Dermik, the makers of the injectable Sculptra. She is also among a select group of physicians chosen from around the world to teach proper injection techniques for Radiesse, the volumizing filler. Dr. Fitzgerald is an assistant clinical professor at UCLA. Visit online at www.RebeccaFitzgeraldMD.com or call (323) 464-8046 to schedule an appointment.
AVERY SANGSTER is a student in the Leonetti/O’Connell Honors Research in Science Program at Marlborough.
Local student
(Continued from Page 4)
Honors Research Program. I work in a wet lab at the UCLA Institute of Carbon Management, where I assist graduate students with research focused on carbon capture. Carbon capture is the process of removing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air or emissions and storing it so it can’t enter the atmosphere, which is important because it helps reduce the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
Tell us about your project.
In my first year, I assisted on a low-carbon cement project researching a scalable method to produce a cement alternative that could reduce emissions from traditional cement production. This is an important challenge, as the cement industry would rank as the third or fourth largest emitter of CO₂ if it were a
Clothing honors Earth Day and Los Angeles style
By Barbara Sueko McGuire
When Sara Ruhe started thrifting as a teenager in Tucson, Arizona—mostly as a way to escape the summer heat—she never imagined that years later it would grow into a meaningful ca-
country. This year, I am working on a seawater carbonation project that focuses on accelerating the ocean’s inherent ability to absorb and permanently store massive amounts of carbon.
What do you hope to study when you leave Marlborough?
I plan to study engineering at the University of Michigan this fall. My time at the lab has certainly inspired me to love chemical engineering, especially its intersection with sustainability; however, I’m open to exploring other engineering disciplines. I love science and math, and re-
reer. What began as a small collection of thrifted tees and accessories eventually evolved into Barnaby Jack, a curated vintage boutique featuring easy-to-wear items from across the decades. Now based in the Larchmont area,
search allows me to not only apply the concepts I learn in school, but also to be handson in finding solutions to real-world challenges.
Tell me about yourself!
I live in Hollywood Hills but grew up eating Sam’s Bagels and going to the Larchmont Fair. I have always been passionate about fighting climate change and co-authored “COOL: Women Leaders Reversing Global Warming,” the first book to document the work of women climate leaders globally. I also love to play tennis and bake for my friends and family.
Ruhe runs the business primarily through her website while raising her young son with her husband.
“It’s actually really fascinating as a vintage seller to see the history of fashion when I’m sourcing and how materials and construction have changed over time,” she said.
“You get to see pieces from the Edwardian era that are still wearable to this day—we are talking over 100 years old. Then synthetic fabrics were created, and you can see a slow downhill from there.”
Downhill indeed. The fast fashion industry is not only churning out items that barely withstand a single wear but also contribute heavily to environmental damage.
From 2021 to 2024, Californians sent roughly 9.6 billion pounds of clothing to the landfill, according to estimates. Often, what is op-
timistically “donated” ends up trashed, incinerated, or dumped overseas.
Worldwide, the fashion industry produces more than 92 million tons of textile waste each year and accounts for about 10% of annual carbon emissions—more than international aviation and shipping combined.
Choosing used clothing can significantly reduce that environmental impact, with some resale research suggesting that buying used can cut a garment’s carbon footprint by around 80%. And while it’s possible to buy new clothing that’s ethically and sustainably produced, choosing secondhand is the greenest way to shop and take a step back from the mass production cycle.
“The fast fashion industry is one of the top polluters in the world,” explains Ruhe. “The process of making clothing is incredibly harmful to the planet: it’s the second biggest consumer of water often requires toxic dyeing processes, not to mention the underpaid and inhumane work environments for people all around the world.”
While sustainability may lead some shoppers to explore vintage, Ruhe says that it’s also just a fun and often more affordable way to approach fashion and personal style. Getting started is easy—the first step is figuring out your budget and how much time you have available for the hunt. Thrift stores can offer great finds for those willing to search, while local flea markets, antique fairs, and vintage stores provide more curated and styled selections. Regardless of where people begin, the key is shopping thoughtfully and choosing pieces meant to last.
“Everything is one-of-akind and so it’s inherently special,” says Ruhe. “If something speaks to you, it’s more than just an article of clothing, it’s a tool to express your unique style, your voice. That is something fast fashion has a hard time providing.”
Visit shopbarnabyjack.com.
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE, are words Ruhe lives by.
SARA RUHE at her shop.
POLICE BEAT
Man taken to psychiatric facility after striking victim with tire iron
OLYMPIC DIVISION
AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS:
A Hispanic male, believing his wife to be inside someone’s van, struck the van’s owner with a tire iron March 13 at 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of South Oxford Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard. The man was subsequently arrested, determined to be mentally unwell, and taken to a psychiatric facility.
After being asked to move his vehicle, a Hispanic male became irate and struck a victim with his car at an apartment complex March 14 at 1 p.m. on the 3000 block of Wilshire.
BURGLARIES: A suspect entered a home through the
WILSHIRE DIVISION
Furnished by Senior Lead Officer
Tyler Shuck
213-793-0650
40740@lapd.online
Twitter: @lapdwilshire
front door while the homeowner’s son was inside March 1 at 10:30 a.m. on the 800 block of South Gramercy Place. It is unknown if any property was taken.
Three male suspects broke a security camera, smashed through a glass door, disabled the Wi-Fi, and took property March 6 at 9:56 p.m. on the
OLYMPIC DIVISION
Furnished by Senior Lead Officer
Daniel Chavez
213-793-0709
36304@lapd.online
Instagram: @olympic_slo1
500 block of North Beachwood Drive.
A homeless Hispanic male used a set of lost keys to enter a side gate and take property from a victim’s vehicle in the garage March 13 at 9:10 p.m. on the 300 block of Windsor Boulevard. He was subsequently arrested
A suspect entered a sliding
Two homes burn on St. Andrews Pl.
By Nona Sue Friedman
A blaze erupted at an abandoned home at 509 N. St. Andrews Pl., burning that house as well as the house next door at 513 N. St. Andrews Pl. The incident killed two dogs, pets of the family living at the latter home, on the afternoon of March 8.
According to reports from ABC Channel 7 news, it took 100 firefighters about an hour to gain control of the destructive fire. The house where the fire began had been abandoned for at least two years.
According to Los Angeles Police Department Senior Lead Officer Danny Chavez, “It’s horrible what happened there. It’s a situation that I didn’t take lightly. I was very aware of it,” he said. An arson investigation is ongoing.
However, claims reported
BURNED SHELL of a home at 513 N. St. Andrews Place.
in various news sources state that LAPD didn’t do enough to prevent the blaze from starting in the first place.
According to Chavez, “From the city’s perspective, we did what we needed to do.” This included getting a trespass order, which yielded the arrest of four individuals about a month ago. The property was chained and locked with a city lock, which only allows LAPD access to sweep the property in accordance with the trespass order. The City Attorney’s
glass door and took jewelry, a purse, and a camera from an apartment March 14 at 5 p.m. on the 5000 block of Maplewood Avenue.
BURGLARY THEFTS
FROM AUTO: An unknown suspect entered a vehicle and stole a water bottle, possibly using a remote signal-amplifying device, March 6 at 7:40 p.m. on the 4000 block of West 5th Street.
THEFTS: A Hispanic female suspect took a bike from
outside a residence March 8 at 4:10 p.m. on the 700 block of Manhattan Place.
A suspect took a victim’s unattended handbag and phone March 13 at 11 p.m. on the 3000 block of Wilshire.
WILSHIRE DIVISION
GRAND THEFT AUTO: A suspect used an electronic device to unlock and start a vehicle in a driveway and subsequently fled with the vehicle March 2 on the 500 block of Cherokee Avenue.
office was involved. Chavez had many conversations with the property owner, a developer waiting for private funding, encouraging him to board up the property, but ultimately boarding up the property is the owner’s decision. He did have the owner turn power off to the property. The developer also owns the adjacent vacant lot at 505 N. St. Andrews Pl.
About a month ago, Chavez reported to LA311 that extension cords were being illegally run directly to the light pole near the property, which is illegal and dangerous.
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NGA women meet Aviva president and end-of-life doula for inspiration
By H. Hutcheson
The all-volunteer women’s nonprofit, National Giving Alliance (formerly—as in 1885 formerly!—known as the Needlework Guild of America) had their March meeting at member Kiel Fitzgerald’s home in Windsor Square. Copresidents Susan Kneafsey and Erin Garvan presented two speakers: Amber Rivas, president and CEO of Aviva, the Hollywood nonprofit that provides foster care, mental health, and housing services for at-risk children and women; and, just to mix it up, Megan Derry, an end-of-life doula.
Rivas shared about the success of the work being done with homeless women and children here in Hollywood through Aviva, which has been in operation for over 110 years. More than 60% of the homeless individuals they serve move into permanent housing after completing the 8-to 11-month program at Aviva’s Wallis House. Vice President Priscilla Valencia added, “This far exceeds the County’s goal of 25%.”
Rivas thanked NGA members for showing up for their communities and for their yearly donations of new linens, clothing, and personal care
AVIVA PRESIDENT Amber Rivas (right) and Vice President Priscilla Valencia. items. Rivas said because of NGA member contributions, “Mothers often arrive with their child—after sleeping in their car or encampments for weeks—to a room with clean linens, a bag of personal care necessities and clothes, and a note of inspiration which immediately makes them feel like they are walking into a home, not a program.”
Rivas spoke about the new site at 1905 Highland Ave., where pregnant and postpartum women will have a place to live with health and social services, that will be built by Aviva in partnership with City Council District 4 and funded through Proposition 1’s Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program. The new site “doubles Aviva’s bed capacity,” Valencia said. Rivas
added, “Women will not be separated from their infants, even if there is substance abuse. Mothers don’t have to make a choice between custody and recovery,” which, she added is often an issue for homeless women with newborns.
NGA members did not anticipate the second speaker would be as uplifting, but lo and behold were pleasantly surprised. Megan Derry is a non-medical professional who offers her service as an endof-life doula. She supports families through the dying process, but most importantly offers the dying person autonomy by being their advocate.
Derry gave examples of her services and opened a heartfelt conversation with the group, who are usually busy packing bags for locally disadvantaged
groups at meetings. Derry was spot-on with her mission, as she said, “The hope is that the conversation on end-of-life starts people thinking: How do I want to conduct myself in my life? How can I be more present? How can I have no regrets? Speaking about it gives one a lightness in their life.” And as the meeting con-
cluded, there certainly was a more buoyant atmosphere to the group!
Aviva will host its annual gala Sat., May 9, at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood, where it welcomes sponsorship. Visit aviva.org for more information.
For more information on Megan Derry, email her at mpderry@me.com.
NGA will be holding its annual gala Sun., April 26, at The Edmon and invites contributors and sponsors. Visit ngahancockpark.org.
LAPD runs in the desert for fun?
By Nona Sue Friedman
Los Angeles Police Department is one of many law enforcement agencies from around the globe that compete in Baker to Vegas, baton relay race This is the 40th year of the prestigious race, also known as B2V. Thousands of officers will hit the desert’s pavement Sat., March 28, and Sun., March 29.
The race has the reputation of “hot days and cold nights” and “where runners go to compete,” according to the website.
There are 20 legs to the race with one athlete doing each portion plus 35 to 40 people
traveling with the runners for support. Both Olympic and Wilshire Divisions have teams in the race this year.
According to Senior Lead Officer Danny Chavez of Olympic, “It’s logistically difficult to organize. It takes a whole year to plan.” For Olympic, the 120-mile race starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Baker, California and continues until 6 a.m. on Sunday ending in Las Vegas. Chavez said, “It’s a morale builder for the division.” Wilshire Division SLOs Andrew Jones, Tyler Shuck, and Hebel Rodriguez are participating in their team’s race this year.
NGA MEMBERS (from left) Elsa Castaldo, Kiel Fitzgerald, and Beverly Brown.
DOULA Megan Derry.
Peptides: everyone’s new favorite science word. Do they work?
If you spend enough time around the modern wellness scene, someone will undoubtedly tell you about peptides. Some time ago, I sat on the couch at my friend’s office. He had just invited over another friend, a woman who was a self-identified “earth medicine practitioner.” She began telling me about a medicine she works with—administering it to herself as well as others who book “sessions” with her. This medicine comes from the secretions of a certain frog. I’ve spent enough time around alternative medicine communities to recognize the pattern of these conversations: powerful substances, breakthroughs, occasional miracles. My attention began to drift a bit, but it was recaptured when she leaned in, eyes bulging out at me with excitement, “And the peptides, oh my god… what they do is amazing!” Confused, I said, “What peptides?” To which she responded, “You know, the peptides in the—medicine they do stuff for your skin and hair and just make you glow!”
As odd and psychedelic as this whole encounter was in hindsight, the comment about peptides was the most difficult for me to figure out. What the hell did she mean— the peptides?
This is a good point for a little bit of background and a tiny lesson in biochemistry. Proteins make up a large portion of the human body (approximately 20%) and their functions are incredibly varied. Enzymes, antibodies, structural components, transporters, receptors, signalers—they’re all made from proteins. Proteins are made of amino acids, which you can basically think of as 20 different-shaped building blocks, which are put together in varied ways to make unique proteins. A typical protein in the human body might be 300 to 500 amino acids long, folded into a 3D shape, but there
Karla Ahmanson to be honored by Archbishop of L.A.
The Archbishop’s Awards Dinner is honoring Karla Ahmanson of Hancock Park Sat., April 11 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. This black tie dinner affaire recognizes extraordinary community members.
Ahmanson converted to Catholicism 25 years ago with the encouragement of Monsignor Antonio Cacciapuoti. She is a Dame of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great, an honor that recognizes her commitment to faith and service.
Tickets are available at tinyurl.com/3bvbk834.
Health & Wellness
By Priscilla Duggan
is a lot of room for variability beyond that range. A string of amino acids that is considerably shorter than that (2 to 50 amino acids long) is known as a peptide.
These small strings of amino acids that come together to make proteins can be staggeringly diverse in function. At this juncture, it should be getting clearer why I was so confused when I heard this peptide comment, because it’s about as clear as saying “It has ingredients in it!” or “It has materials in it!” Unless you know what the ingredients or materials are and what they do, these are empty statements.
Scientists have discovered peptides that are natural hormones in our body (like
insulin), or ones that suppress immune response (like cyclosporine), or ones that are potently toxic to the liver (like microcystin), or raise our blood pressure (like angiotensin II)—the list goes on. I suspect that the current peptide craze in injectables, cosmetics, and supplements might have as much to do with marketing language that sounds “scientific” and “cutting edge” than statistically significant research.
It is true that drugs that are designed using peptides may have important advantages pharmacologically speaking. Peptides are much bigger than normal-small molecule drugs, which means they can target many more proteins in the body. Moreover, they tend to bind strongly to their targets in the body with minimal side effects because they are essentially “disguised” as natural proteins in our bodies. A
CYCLOSPORIN, one of the earliest successful peptide-based drugs, bound to its target, cyclophilin.
few ending scientific points to help ground you before you drop $300 on a new face cream:
There is a difference between therapeutic peptides (which have been used for over a hundred years) like insulin, oxytocin, or GLP-1—carefully designed pharmaceuticals which undergo clinical trials and have a measurable biological effect—and cosmetic
peptides (like those in skincare products). The latter are backed by many claims, but often function more as a marketing category than a pharmacological one. Not to mention, normally peptides can’t be delivered orally (they degrade quickly in the digestive system) or through the skin (they do not cross barriers unless cyclized or stapled).
Keep in mind that the scientific community has been working with peptides as potential therapeutic agents for over a centuary. The peptide craze most likely exploded so recently due to cultural factors such as biohacker culture and “optimization/longevity” clinics more than anything else.
As always, a little curiosity and discernment will do you well when deciding what to put in, or on, your body.
Comments? Email pcd1130@gmail.com.
SUMMER CAMPS & PROGRAMS
Pack 16 is back at the races—with pizza!
By Jim Kalin
Is there anything more exciting than car races?!
Local Cub Scout Pack 16 held their annual Pinewood Derby race in March at the St. Brendan School gymnasium. The racing was accompanied with pizza (cheese or pepperoni), Smarties, and cheering.
Competition was divided by dens, and a double-elimination bracket system was used.
There were five divisions and a sibling race. A specialty contest was also held.
Preparation for the racers began long before race day. Each scout received an official BSA (Boy Scouts of America) Pinewood Derby car kit, which consisted of four plastic tires, a small page of number decals, four axles (nails), and a rectangular pine block measuring 7” long and 2 ¾” wide.
Constructing a car is a personal project, though parents assist (hopefully) in the sawing and shaping of the body.
Tutorial videos on YouTube are helpful, offering hints to maximize performance. The car cannot weigh more than five ounces, so one sight suggested baking the wood block
in the oven two hours at 250 degrees to remove moisture and bring down the weight.
This enables the scout to modify his or her car later by drilling a hole on the underside just before the rear axles and adding weight there (lead ball fishing sinkers was one suggestion.) Bear scout
Chapman Harris won the Champion of Champions race at the evening’s conclusion.
The cub scouts and their parents would like to thank pack leader Jackie Miron, and the individual den leaders.
Below are the results of the racing and specialty judging.
Tiger Den: First – Josephine M; Second – Milo Park-Cardoza; Third – Haley Im, Most Creative — Noah Shin – “The
Destroyer”
Wolf Den: First – Callen Bayer Hafra; Second – Julian Chen; Third – Rio Park-Cardoza; Most Creative – Isabel Kim – “Chess.” Bear Den: First – Chapman Harris; Second – Ellie Ahn; Third –Samuel Viche-Fuentes; Most Creative – Henry Deemer –“Cheese Wedge.” Webelo Den: First – Gabriel Tarrosa; Second – Amaya Remphis, Third – Hunter Moon; Most creative – Francesca Uy – “Yankee Doodle.” Arrow of Light: First – Willa Klein; Second – Jordan De Rosas; Third – Philo Park; Most Creative – Jeraldine Miron – “Pinewood Derpy.” Not all cars are created equal, but each is fueled by love.
Student is named 79th YMCA Youth Governor
By Suzan Filipek Larchmont Charter
High School junior Devon Jasiukonis’ leadership roles started in the second grade, when he was elected class rep.
His goal of being a politician is well on its way as the now 17-year-old was recently elected 79th California YMCA Youth Governor. In that role he heads a 3,000-person organization with 60 delegates.
The YMCA Youth Governor program has grown from seven to nearly 80 teens since its inception 12 years ago.
“Even more exciting, our Y has produced a statewide Youth Governor, an extraordinary milestone that reflects the power of this program and the impact of our collective efforts,” said Rae Jin, Munger YMCA executive director.
Jasiukonis will debate real-world issues, draft legislation, and lead a Model Legislature Court program.
Jasiukonis was impressed when he saw his ideas in elementary and middle school come to fruition. “I saw my voice could impact change
outside of school. My interest in politics blossomed… “I think we need better politicians,” he cited as his inspiration to major in political science after graduation.
In July he will attend the YMCA World Youth Conference in Toronto as a member of the Teen Mental Health Fellowship. The conference takes place every four years. He also serves on his neighborhood council.
His mother, Tina Jasiukonis, who grew up in Hancock Park, credits her son’s years at Larchmont Charter for his sense of initiative. “His leadership started at Larchmont and has gone really far, and it has empowered him and created a strong sense of self.”
BEAR DEN members Louis Snyder, Nick Sakmar, Grand Champion Chapman Harris, Auggie Klein, Samuel Viche-Fuentes.
Devon Jasiukonis
SUMMER CAMPS & PROGRAMS
Community digs deep to build new garden at Page Academy
By Suzan Filipek
Students, teachers, and Rotarians rolled up their sleeves March 7 to create a new garden at Page Academy on Larchmont Boulevard.
The community event took place after weeks of planning by parents, faculty, and members of the Wilshire Rotary Club—including Daniel Loh and Adam Rubenstein—at the toddler-through-eighth-grade school.
Decade-old rotten wooden planters were replaced with six shiny green galvanized steel ones.
They were partially filled with dirt, and more will be added in time for Earth Day, Wed., April 22, to create a bed for herbs, vegetables, and flowers.
A campus celebration that day will feature students performing songs. Class posters—made in honor of the annual global event—will decorate the outdoor area, said school Principal Pat Klindworth.
The event, Bloom with Page Academy, “was a lot of work. Everybody worked very hard,” she added.
During the academic year the garden will provide the school’s 70 students with
SCHOOL NEWS
ST. JAMES’ EPISCOPAL
Sloan Kennedy 6th Grade
hands-on opportunities to learn about plant science, sustainability, and nutrition. And they will grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs in the garden located in a fenced area on a corner of the playground, school spokesperson Juliana Stavola said.
The recent Saturday event included craft activities so younger children could participate while the heavy-lifting
Ivan Rodriguez, wearing baseball cap in rear, with students.
ROTARIAN Daniel Loh (right) and school maintenance staff members Alex and Salvador.
garden work was underway. Lunch was provided, giving families, volunteers, and Rotary members time to gather and connect as a community.
The school paid $2,200 for the project, with additional funds provided by the community and parents. Anawalt Lumber supplied building materials.
To make donations toward new dirt for the garden, email Principal Klindworth at pklindworth@pageacademyca.com or call 321-228-3683.
Spring has sprung and with it have come many more exciting things at St. James’! In February, to celebrate Lunar New Year, we had a special assembly featuring a 5th grade Korean drumming performance, plus a traditional bowing ceremony. To celebrate Black History Month, we had a special soul food lunch and performance from our amazing Gospel Choir. In March, we celebrated Women’s History Month by having an assembly with women from our own St. James’ community speaking from and about their different fields. We also read and learned about various biographies, poems, female composers, and performers. To wrap up the month, our all-school musical, “Madagascar” was performed at the Wilshire Ebell Theater on March 14, and as the 6th graders’ last musical, we are all very proud.
MARLBOROUGH
Madison McClure 10th Grade
With spring break closely approaching, Marlborough Violets are hard at work with two to three assessments
PAGE FIFTH GRADER Chloe Rubenstein with a guest.
weekly, but somehow we are all still thriving. Marlborough’s lacrosse team is starting off their season with an amazing start, having a 7-0 record as of March 7. As for Marlborough traditions, the sophomore class will unveil their class banner to the school in just two weeks! Creating your class banner is a sacred Marlborough tradition where each class once they reach 10th grade creates a banner that they believe best represents their class as a whole. Some banners from previous years are a stained-glass
SENIOR DIRECTOR Pat Klindworth and Page, a stray taken in by the school.
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
With summer around the corner, check
As daylight each day increases, dreams of summer activities and plans grow nearer. This directory is a jumping off point for camps and programs for kids.
If you have a favorite camp or program that we’ve missed, please contact circulation@ larchmontchronicle.com.
Overnight
camps
Aloha Beach Camp Hawaii 68-729 Farrington Hwy. Waialua, HI 96791 818-919-4600
alohabeachcamphawaii.com
Boy Scouts of America
Multiple locations 2333 Scout Way 213-413-4400
greaterlascouting.org
Catalina Island Camps 707 W. Woodbury Rd., #F Altadena 626-296-4040
catalinaislandcamps.com
Camp Hollywoodland Girls Camp 3200 Canyon Dr. 323-467-7193
laparks.org/camp/camp-hollywoodland
Camp JCA Shalom Institute 34342 Mulholland Hwy. Malibu 818-889-5500 campjcashalom.com
March has been an incredible month at The Center for Early Education, filled with community spirit, cultural celebration, and impressive innovation. A major highlight was our school-wide Day of Service, where students joined their “Families”—unique, multiage groups spanning all grade levels—to support local nonprofits. Together, our community volunteered with impactful organizations such as Big Sunday, Baby2Baby, the Hollywood Food Coalition, and Our Big Kitchen. Following this, we celebrated our diverse heritage during International Food Day. Families generously shared traditional dishes from their various countries of origin, giving students a chance to taste delicious flavors from across the globe in a wonderful cultural exchange. Finally, our fifth graders unveiled their much-anticipated “Robot
Petting Zoo.” After months of diligent coding and construction, they proudly showcased their interactive creations to the entire school, offering younger students an exciting, hands-on glimpse into the advanced project awaiting them in future years at CEE.
THE OAKS Atlas Tuck 6th Grade
The Oaks School Circus is almost here! This is a beloved allschool event where every student chooses a circus skill to learn, practice, and perform in front of the entire school and all the parents. This gives the students an opportunity to pick up a unique skill, exercise new muscles in their body, and stretch their minds. For example, learning to ride a 5-foot unicycle teaches your brain coordination and balance and helps with your core strength. Another piece of the circus that is really convenient is that right after the performance spring break officially starts. The circus is a longstanding Oaks tradition that every student looks forward to.
Summer Riding Camps Summer
For over 25 years we have offered a safe, fun-filled program
June 8 - Sept. 11 (weekly) 9 am to 3:30 pm Spring Camp
Weeks of March 30 & April 6
Applications accepted NOW … first come, first served
• Beginner to Intermediate
• Ages 6 and up
• Patient instructors, gentle school horses
• Limited group size
• Health precautions observed
• Arts & Crafts
Gene Gilbert, USPC Professional Member located at the Paddock Riding Club
4010 Verdant Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039 Tel: 323-665-8977
gggilbertent@aol.com www.EnterpriseFarms.com
School news
(Continued from Page 11)
window of a sunset (class of ’27) or a record cover of a cityscape with a recording of the class singing their class song (class of ’26). Regarding Marlborough Arts, Marlborough Ensemble Theatre’s performance of “Witch” debuts March
12. MET is an ensemble composed of juniors and seniors who audition to have a spot in the cast. Every spring MET performs the play or musical that they have been rehearsing since the fall; “Witch” by Jen Silverman is a take on the Jacobean drama “Witch of Edmonton.” If you are free, I would definitely recommend watching!
NEW COVENANT
Evelyn Lee 11th Grade
This month started off with a lot of fun as our high school students took a field trip to Six Flags Magic
Mountain. This fun day filled with laughter and thrill brought unexpected joy to our NCA students!
The thrill didn’t end there. To commemorate their graduations, our 8th graders took a patriotic trip to our nation’s capital Washington, D.C., where they learned extensively about the history of America. Our hardworking 12th grade students traveled to Korea, taking in their deep culture and expressive sceneries.
To end off this heartfelt month, NCA hosted its annual Easter Service filled with performances and joy, honoring Jesus’ sacrifice and love towards His people. This event offered a touching moment where the whole NCA community came together through Jesus’ love.
TURNING POINT SCHOOL
Ren Stoppani-Brown 8th Grade
honors the school’s legacy and milestones of its 80 years. It will take place at the elegant and highly distinguished Roosevelt Hotel. The gala is a lively experience for parents and teachers to fundraise and support school initiatives. The silent auction is also a highlight, with proceeds going toward creating opportunities for equitable access to education. The auction items range from dinners at a tasty Hollywood restaurant to family vacations. Once the auction concludes, the fun continues on the dance floor. With 80 years under HSH’s belt, this year’s festivity is sure to be a memorable one!
IMMACULATE HEART
Hello again, Chronicle readers! It’s springtime 2026 at Turning Point School, and there’s a lot to look forward to. Middle school students have just returned from their sleepaway trips, which I covered in my last article. Spring brings a few exciting events our way. To celebrate Earth Day, all middle schoolers will head to Kenneth Hahn Park for a nature hike—and 8th graders get the special opportunity to bring their 5th grade buddies along and spend time with them on the trail. Spring also means new sports! This season, we’re adding soccer, volleyball, and cross country to the lineup. We can’t wait to get outside, try something new, and enjoy everything this season has to offer!
HOLLYWOOD SCHOOLHOUSE
Reece Bagley 6th Grade
April at Hollywood Schoolhouse excites many parents, as this means the school’s annual gala is approaching! This year’s theme is “Forever Hollywood,” which
L.A.
Tennis Club summer camp is for ages 6 to 14
Looking for a camp your child can walk or ride a bike to? The Los Angeles Tennis Club’s Summer Camp offers children ages 6 to 14 daily tennis instruction paired with recreational free swimming (participants must be able to swim) and supervised game room activities right in the neighborhood at 5851 Clinton Street. Campers develop tennis skills, sportsmanship, and social connections while staying active and having fun throughout the summer. Enrollment is open to members and nonmembers alike. For more information visit latennisclub.com.
Madison Dang 11th Grade History was made last month when Immaculate Heart High School’s Varsity Soccer Team claimed their first-ever CIF Championship title! Guided by Coach Kevin Cadenas and Assistant Coach Vanessa Rivas, the team showed amazing grit and determination throughout their season. Each victory led the team closer to the CIF Southern Section Division 4 Finals against San Jacinto High School, which took place at Sartoris Field in Glendale. The match was an intense battle, though the Pandas ultimately persevered with a 5-4 victory in the penalty kick shootout. Many students and faculty were in attendance cheering the girls on, and the school spirit continued with a celebration at school, where the soccer team was honored for their hard work. Congratulations to the entire team for their outstanding win!
LARCHMONT CHARTER
LAFAYETTE PARK
Ella Wolovitch 10th Grade
Everyone is looking forward to spring break and getting excited for a well-deserved break from the hard work of the school year. We have also been celebrating Women’s History Month and look forward to the Women’s History Month assembly hosted by GirlsBuild. There will be games, activities, and women’s history education. Students have also been working tirelessly to prepare for AP tests that will happen in May. As the third quarter wraps up, students work hard to get their work done before parent-teacher conferences. Overall, it’s been an exciting month, and we are looking forward to another month full of learning!
PILGRIM SCHOOL
Jake Pak 10th Grade
It’s been an exciting time here at Pilgrim, with lots of events bringing our community together.
(Please turn to Page 17)
8.2-mile Los Angeles Marathon got it completely wrong
It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. We use that cliché to describe something that’s inherently difficult and will take considerable time to complete. Everyone runs; it’s the most basic athletic movement a person can perform. Remember when we were kids? Literally all we did was run.
But not everyone runs 26.2 miles. That oddly specific number is what’s required to complete a marathon. We know running a marathon is hard because, as legend has it, the first person to ever run that distance dropped dead as soon as he finished. There was no finisher medal for him that day.
And that’s where I say shame on the organizers of the L.A. Marathon. Last month’s was the 41st running of the eponymously race, and as luck would have it, temperatures were really hot that day.
But this year, two days before the event, the organizers of the event did something that, as far as I know, is unprecedented. They decided to create an alternate finish line for the “marathon” at the 18-mile mark. Worse yet, runners who chose to “finish” at 18 miles were still awarded the “finisher” medal—the same one handed out at the actual finish line 8.2 miles further down the road, for the people who actually finished the marathon.
When I read that they made this decision I was incredulous, and I wasn’t alone. I immediately reached out to friends in the running community, and the decision was the topic of the day. No one I connected with could believe The McCourt Foundation had made that choice, let alone supported it.
I’ve got several problems with the move to reward those who quit. First, I’ll explain it in the context of a cycling event I did six years ago in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was an 80-mile race and included the Siskiyou Mountain Climb—a notoriously difficult climb that includes 2,000 feet of elevation gain in 5 miles. It’s a really hard climb. I’d never done it before, and as I was suffering through one switchback after another, wondering if I could
Chasing Sports by Chase Campen
finish this, I saw something horrible. I encountered other riders who’d—gulp—gotten off their bikes and were walking them up the hill. Until that moment, the concept of quitting hadn’t entered my mind, wasn’t even an option. These people showed me something I didn’t think was possible—not that I could finish this incredibly difficult task—but that I could quit!
I didn’t take that option; I tried to avoid looking at those riders (now walkers) like I avoid looking at car crashes.
But when the L.A. Marathon added an “easy button” to their race—an opt-out at mile 18—they unknowingly planted the seed in every runner that quitting was an option. Obviously, certain types of people are just way too competitive to accept the easy way out. But 27,000 people ran the race that day; how many of those do you think were tempted to bail out 8 miles early and still get their reward? I suspect a lot, and it’s a choice they never should have had to make.
And that really is my broader point; simply, a marathon is 26.2 miles. How on earth can you justify, and actually award a medal, to someone who opts out miles before the finish line?
On a side note, an extraordinary thing happened at the finish line in the professional men’s group. Kenya’s Michael Kimani Kamau had a sizable lead in the race’s final miles, but just 300 meters from the finish, he absent-mindedly and briefly followed an official race vehicle slightly off course. He soon realized his error and paused for a moment, figuring out how to get back on course. It’s hard to nail this precisely, but I’d say the mishap cost him 20 seconds.
Unfortunately for Kamau that was about a half-second more than he could afford. Bearing down on him was American Nathan Martin, who charged hard through the finish line and, incredibly, caught Kamau at the last pos-
sible moment, crossing the finish line 0.01 of a second ahead of a suddenly despondent Kamau, who collapsed at the finish line. It was an incredible moment for Martin, and an incredible end of the race. Unfortunately, it includes the controversy of
Kamau being slightly led off course by an official race vehicle, which ultimately cost him the race.
That’s on Kamau, and cheers to Martin for an incredible, life-changing finish.
But the somewhat controversial ending, involving an official race vehicle, could be seen as karmic for a racing organization that awarded, and may have even encouraged, participants to opt out miles before the finish but still get rewarded for almost completing the ultimate endurance test known to man.
PARTICIPATING IN A MARATHON tests physical endurance and mental fortitude.
Architect of Geffen explores the role of gallery design at LACMA
By Helene Seifer
David Geffen Galleries architect Peter Zumthor will be in conversation with Michael Govan, CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director of LACMA, on Wed., April 22 at 7 p.m. This is the third Genesis Talk with
creative leaders in the leadup to the highly anticipated opening of the new building.
LACMA’s David Geffen Galleries open to members with reservations Sun., April 19, to Sun., May 3, and to the general public beginning Mon., May 4. The Genesis Talks, named for underwriter Hyundai’s luxury car, explore the value and role of art museums and their holdings to the community. The conversation with the Swiss architect will
address museum design as a force for public engagement.
Zumthor’s is an ambitious design, a 900-foot elevated floor that sweeps across Wilshire Boulevard, with multiple entrances and glass walls that allow the natural world to penetrate the art world. This approach seeks to present art in a egalitarian way, rather than the usual hierarchy separating popular Western masters from the often tucked-away galleries of lesser-known art from other corners of the world. Artworks will be displayed to resonate with each other across styles and time periods in ways not possible when exhibited in art “silos.”
The Pritzker Prize-winning Zumthor created outdoor space on the site for educational programming, art installations, and public events which aim to capture the community’s imagination the way Chris Burden’s outdoor light sculpture “Urban Light” and live jazz concerts do now. Similarly, the newly installed “Split-Rocker” by Jeff Koons, who spoke with Govan at the first Genesis Talk in December, is a plant-covered monumental sculpture that should entice guests to visit its ever-evolving flora and flurry of butterflies, bees, and birds that hover around it.
The second Genesis Talk, which was held in January, further explored the role of a museum in public life, with a riveting discussion led by Govan with Darren Walker, president of the National Gallery of Art and former president of the Ford Foundation, and artist Mark Bradford. They each stressed the importance of being exposed to the arts and of bringing art into underserved communities.
Walker, who grew up with economic hardship in rural Texas, first discovered art when he perused art books in collectors’ homes while accompanying his grandmother to her housecleaning jobs. He became a banker before his exposure to the New York art scene, when a lover who was an artist convinced him to pursue a more creative outlet. At the Ford Foundation he put arts and social justice at the center of what they funded.
Bradford, a MacArthur Fellow and 2023 recipient of the National Medal of Arts, grew up in a boarding house in Los Angeles. He worked in his mother’s hair salon in Leimert Park before receiving a scholarship to the California Institute of the Arts. His collaged paintings are layered
ARCHITECT
with sanded, ripped, and torn papers, and always include a social message. In his powerful wall-sized “150 Portrait Tone,” installed in the Resnick Pavilion at LACMA, he carved excerpts from the words Philandro Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, called in anguish as a police officer shot and killed Castile after stopping their car; the words include “Lord, please Jesus, don’t tell me that he’s gone.”
In 2015 Bradford used his MacArthur prize money to co-found Art + Practice, a nonprofit foundation in Leimert Park. It collaborates with social service providers and other nonprofits to support foster youth and education initiatives and to provide free access to artist talks, film screenings, workshops, and contemporary art exhibits curated by the California African American Museum.
“I wanted to bring the mountain to the people,” Bradford explained. “I wanted them to be able to stop and see an exhibit on the way to the store.”
LACMA prioritizes community outreach initiatives, such as programming an adjunct gallery at Charles White Elementary School near MacArthur Park, at Mark Bradford’s suggestion, and supporting the restoration of the Simon Rodia Towers in Watts.
For information on the upcoming Genesis Talk with Peter Zumthor on Wed., April 22, or to make a reservation to visit the David Geffen Galleries, go to lacma.org.
GENESIS TALK from January 2026 with (from left) Ford Foundation former president Darren Walker, artist Mark Bradford, and CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director of LACMA Michael Govan.
America’s 250th kicks off with Windsor Square celebration
By Beth Ann Hilton
Daughters of the American Revolution had a ticketed afternoon affair and blended living history with philanthropy on Feb. 21. Some guests arrived in Colonial-era attire, portraying figures such as Betsy Ross, Dolley Madison, General Lafayette, and Benjamin Franklin, transforming the manicured lawn into a vibrant tableau of early American life complete with a croquet court.
The Los Angeles-Eschscholtzia Chapter of DAR celebrated America 250, the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and the 200th anniversary of Marquis de Lafayette’s triumphant return to America with a festive French
School news
(Continued from Page 14)
One of the main highlights was Café Barnum, our annual talent show. The night was full of amazing performances from students showing off their talents in music, dance, comedy, and more. It was great to see everyone supporting each other and celebrating the creativity in our school.
Another fun event was Love Fest with Larchmont Charter School, which went really well and brought together both communities. It was a great opportunity to connect with the community and share Pilgrim spirit.
Looking ahead, parent-teacher conferences are coming up soon. These conferences give families and teachers a chance to talk about student progress and how we can keep growing and improving throughout the year.
We’re also in the middle of college admissions season, which is an exciting and busy time for seniors as they hear back from schools and start thinking about
PATRIOTIC GARDEN PARTY at the home of the Gordons. From left Kim Jindra, Caitlin Bidwell, Gay Oakes, David Mauldin, and Edward Kiniri-Ostro.
American patriotic garden gathering at the Windsor Square home of Dr. Leo Gordon and Mrs. Jan Gordon.
Entertainment included an effervescent speech by—a 2026 version of—
their plans after Pilgrim.
It’s been a great time for our school community, and we’re looking forward to everything coming up next.
WINDWARD
Lucy Margolis 10th Grade
Dolley Madison and a live portrayal of Benjamin Franklin performing on his rare and mesmerizing musical invention, the glass armonica. The ethereal tones of the instrument drifted across the garden, offering guests a unique glimpse into 18th-century innovation and artistry.
Two portrayals of Gen. Lafayette—both younger and
Sorrells, Meghan Lewis.
older—added historical depth and theatrical charm to the celebration.
Some 50 guests enjoyed French crêpes and Champagne by Crepes Bonaparte, as well as cheese, shrimp, and crudités platters. Lively bidding on a robust silent auction benefited the chapter’s charitable initiatives.
Period-inspired décor and French-themed table settings underscored the transatlantic spirit of the event, honoring both America’s founding and France’s enduring friendship.
Proceeds from the afternoon supported the chapter’s ongoing work throughout Los Angeles, including assembling care packages and outreach for veterans, maintaining veterans’ gravesites, supporting students at local schools and universities, sponsoring student essay competitions, and attending civic ceremonies.
The Windsor Square celebration reflected both a reverence for history and a commitment to community service—hallmarks of the DAR’s mission as the nation celebrates this milestone Learn more about DAR and the America 250 celebrations nationwide: dar.org/outreach/ america-250.
Windward is booming with sports events and club meetings. Windward had its annual Buy It on the Bridge, where students make baked goods or other products to sell to their peers. This Windward favorite tradition did not disappoint.
More importantly, two new fruit cup options have been added: papaya and grapefruit, which are excellent and exactly the diversity Windward strives for. A new drink option has also been added to the cafeteria: healthy soda. This change is significant because until now there has been no soda-like drink offered. Scholars are thrilled to enjoy healthy sodas while doing the unhealthy
Carey’d away and Rocking the Hall with this year’s inductees
The inductees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for the class of 2026 were announced Feb. 25. Of the 17 nominees, 10 of the recording acts are on the ballot for the first time. They include the late Jeff Buckley, Phil Collins as a solo artist (he was inducted as a member of the group Genesis in 2010), Melissa Etheridge, Lauryn Hill, INXS, New Edition, Pink, Shakira, the late Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan. The diversity of these first-time nominees spans the genres of rock, rap, pop, R&B, and Latin.
Artists who are making the list for the second time around are Billy Idol, the Black Crowes, and Sade.
Record Breaker: Will the third time be the charm for Mariah Carey? This is the third consecutive year she’s been nominated. In a series of firsts, Carey holds many record-breaking accomplish-
ments since her self-titled debut album was released in 1990, which includes the female with the most No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with 19. She’s only behind the all-time champs
The Beatles, who own 20, and have held that record since they disbanded in 1970! The artists with the closest total of chart-toppers behind Carey are Rihanna and Taylor Swift, who have 14 No. 1’s apiece. Besides the astonishing amount of No. 1 singles, Carey was also the No. 1 artist for two consecutive decades.
In the 1990s she had the longest-running No. 1 single of all time with “One Sweet Day,” with Boyz II Men, which spent 16 consecutive weeks at the top, from Dec. 2, 1995 through March 16, 1996. That record-breaking feat remained for 23 years! Carey was also the No. 1 artist of the 2000s, when she spent the
most weeks at the top with her single “We Belong Together,” which held on to the No. 1 spot for 14 non-consecutive weeks in 2005. She was also the first female to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with her 1995 single “Fantasy,” and only the second artist to do so, following Michael Jackson’s 1995 No. 1 debut “You Are Not Alone.”
Carey has now been hailed the Queen of Christmas, considering that her modern-day classic recording “All I Want For Christmas Is You” has returned to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for every calendar year since 2019. This past year she marked her eighth consecutive year when the single once again topped the Hot 100. It is now the
No. 1 single of all time, logging 22 weeks at the pinnacle. That record has helped her to become the No. 1 artist of all time with 101 charted weeks. Her closest competitor is Rihanna, who has held down 60 charted weeks on the Hot 100.
In 1990 to 1991 Carey was also the first recording act in chart history to deliver their first five singles to reach No. 1. There are several other records she has broken, but the point of this analysis is the fact that if she does not succeed in being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, well, she most certainly deserves that honor!
In addition to Carey, Iron Maiden, Oasis, and Joy Division/New Order are nominated for a third time
non-consecutively.
An international panel of more than 1,200 artists, music historians, and music industry executives will vote using criteria including an artist’s impact on music culture and influence on other musicians, as well as the scope and longevity of their career and body of work. The final selections for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is slated to be announced in April or May 2026.
The ceremonies will be held in the fall, with a date and location yet to be determined. The ceremony has recently adopted a rotation between New York, Cleveland (home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), and Los Angeles.
Congratulations to all the nominees! Rock on!
What’s in your drinking water and sunscreen?
By Suzan Filipek
Do you know what’s in your sunscreen or your drinking water? Are there pesticides on the avocados and oranges you buy?
The Environmental Working Group has been hard at work for 30 years to uncover the hidden—and not-so-hidden—toxins in the foods and products we eat and use every day.
A cocktail reception was held March 8 at a home on Rimpau Boulevard to introduce EWG and its CEO and founder Ken Cook. About 65 guests dined on taquitos and quesadillas as they heard about the merits of the nonprofit, nonpartisan group on a warm summer-like evening.
“He noted how EWG’s work—from evaluating ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products to investigating contaminants
in food and water—aims to translate complex science into practical information that helps families make healthier choices,” Marcelo Ziperovich, cohost of the event, told us.
Other hosts of the March 8 cocktail party were Kate Adler, Jane Lipsitz, and Paul Stephan. EWG Board Member Kim Rozenfeld was also in attendance.
The nonprofit environ-
COHOSTS (from left) Marcelo Ziperovich and Kate Adler, EWG President Ken Cook, cohost Jane Lipsitz, and EWG board member Kim Rozenfeld.
Musical Notes by Steven Housman
‘Yesteryear,’
I was lucky enough to read an early copy of Caro Claire Burke’s debut novel, Yesteryear, and I’ve been counting the days until its April release so I can talk about it more widely. As a millennial, much of my late 20s and 30s were shaped by following influencers, first on Blogspot and Tumblr, and later Instagram and TikTok. Influencer culture has always fascinated me, and when the term “tradwives” started gaining traction around 2020, my curiosity about that corner of the internet only deepened. If you’re not familiar, just look up Ballerina Farm on Instagram. The account, run by content creator Hannah Neeleman, has more than 10 million followers and is
Sunscreen
(Continued from Page 18)
ronmental group has offices in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento but is not as well known in the City of Angels. “They’re trying to build more awareness and a footprint in Los Angeles,” Ziperovich said.
Caro Claire Burke’s dark satire of a tradwife influencer
often cited as one of the most visible faces of the tradwife movement, which promotes a return to traditional gender roles.
In the summer of 2024, Neeleman was the subject of a controversial profile in the Los Angeles Times. After reading that piece and then quickly devouring “Yesteryear,” it seems clear that the author drew inspiration from reallife tradwife influencers, such as Neeleman and Nara Smith, in crafting this story.
The premise: “Yesteryear” tells the story of Natalie, a
beautiful wife and mother who sells her traditional pioneer lifestyle of raw milk and farm-fresh eggs, living on a massive ranch with her husband and six children, to her millions of social media followers. But behind the scenes, Natalie’s life is not as it seems. She has multiple nannies, farmhands, and producers all helping her keep things moving smoothly, unbeknownst to her followers. One morning, she wakes up cold, filthy, and terrified in the brutal reality of the year 1805. Suddenly, she is forced to experience the brutal old-fashioned lifestyle she’s been faking and promoting for years online. Is this living nightmare an elaborate hoax, some sort of
Larchmont Bookshelf by Katie Urban
reality show, or something far darker?
The verdict: I saw someone describe “Yesteryear” as “The Stepford Wives” meets “Leave the World Behind,” with a touch of “Black Mirror,” and honestly, that comparison feels pretty spot-on. This debut is a darkly funny satire about traditional gender roles and the performances of modern womanhood in a digital world. After reading the novel, I find myself really questioning the lies these influencers spin on social media and the obsession with perfection. While I loved the
book, I suspect it will make for a very divisive book club pick. Some readers will be all in, while others may feel conflicted about the ending, and I’m sure many readers will walk away with plenty of questions. Either way, I predict this will be one of the buzziest book launches when it comes out Tue., April 7.
Fun Fact: The novel’s film rights sparked an 11-way auction (which is wild!), and the film adaptation is moving forward at Amazon MGM Studios, with Anne Hathaway attached to star and produce. Caro Claire Burke also has a podcast, Diabolical Lies, which explores culture and politics. It is definitely worth a listen if you finish the book and want more of her perspective.
Locals put ‘fun’ into fundraising with game of mahjong
By Nona Sue Friedman
About 30 moms gathered at Joanna Morley’s house in Windsor Square to play mahjong and put the “fun” in fundraising for Larchmont Charter School. The sold-out evening March 4 started with Chinese food and “kibitzing,” said the invitation.
After catching up or meeting new friends, attendees played at preassigned tables based on their skill level. The event welcomed beginners to pros. Laughs, nibbles, and the thrill of winning kept the tables going for a few hours.
In keeping with the majong theme, Melissa Karz
During a Q&A guests asked about practical steps individuals can take to reduce chemical exposure in daily life, how supporters can become more engaged in policy advocacy, and how emerging coalitions such as Make America Healthy Again intersect with EWG’s environmental health priorities. Others raised concerns of providing clean beauty and safer cosmetics to everyone. Cook underscored that EWG’s mission is to ensure that safer products, food, and water and healthier environments are within everyone’s reach. EWG works with a team of scientists and policy experts on legislative advocacy and other issues, Cook explained. EWG will host its annual Earth Day dinner in L.A. for the first time. It will take place Wed., April 22, at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. Event and ticket information is at ewg. org/earthdinner.
of Brookside and “mompreneur” of karzplayz.com wore her newest mahjong themed sweatshirt creation.
As Mako Scott said after the event, “So fun! Let’s play more mahj!”
School news
(Continued from Page 17) amount of schoolwork the college preparatory school assigns.
The only caveat is that since these sodas have hit the cafeteria floors, all the good flavors sell out instantly, and if you are able
to get your hands on a soda later than about 11 a.m., chances are it is grape flavored.
THIRD STREET ELEMENTARY Cole Bigus 5th Grade Hello, Larchmont! Third Street Elementary will be doing many exciting things this April. To start off, on Mon., April 6, we’re coming back from our spring break! There will be a Spirit Day on Fri., April 10,
which is inside out/backwards day! It’ll surely be funny to see people wear their clothes like that! On Thu., April 16, our KDLP, Korean Dual Language Program, K-5th grade classes will have a showcase at around 4:30 p.m.! All Third Street families are invited to watch. On Thu., April 23, we have our WALK-a-THON! Students will engage in many fun activities like freeze dancing! Third Street encourages our community to donate to our WALK-a-THON fundraiser, funding our classes like music and technology. It
Neville
MD, FAAP
Keith Shopa MD, FAAP
ABOUT 30 WOMEN played mahjong at a fundraiser to support Larchmont Charter School.
sonal climate pattern [which includes La Niña]. These pattern shifts do not guarantee either dry or wet winters, but they are usually a great signal for what to expect going into our rainy months. Some La Niña seasons are weaker than others, leading to very subtle impacts.
What is happening in our section of the planet, specifically the Pacific Ocean, to cause this to happen?
To get to the source of El Niño or La Niña, we must head way out to the Pacific Ocean. During La Niña years, stronger trade winds (moving east to west) push warmer water west and cause an upwelling of cold water from the depths of the ocean. The cooler waters can affect the jet stream by nudging it northward. Storms that develop along the jet will go around SoCal, leading to long days of rain-free weather. When those trade winds over the Pacific are weaker, an El Niño phase develops, leading to warmer sea-surface temperatures and the potential for wetter winters in SoCal.
Why would this occur some years and then be exactly the opposite other years?
ENSO patterns switch off every three to seven years, and some years we’re in a neutral phase. It all depends on the strength of the equatorial trade winds. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting a transition to a “neutral” phase starting now through April.
We had so much rain early in the winter (even though we say it is a La Niña year). Despite that, it certainly feels extra dry right now. Is that typical?
The 2025-2026 water year
Autumn Robertson, Spectrum News 1.
has certainly been one of the more impactful ones on the books, despite technically being a La Niña year. Since the beginning of the water year, between October 1 to February 17, Los Angeles has received a little over 17 inches of rain, which puts us at a nearly 8-inch surplus! This year’s La Niña was particularly weak, so we had a stretch of dry and above-average days with record-breaking storms working their way in between. We must also keep in mind that scientists are actively researching how human-induced climate change can disrupt weather patterns, including ENSO.
Is that why we have had so many unusually warm daytimes this winter? The days still seem to cool off significantly by night.
We can point to La Niña as a reason. We tend to see more record-breaking warmth during La Niña winters. If the skies are clear at night after a day of bright sunshine and warm air, temperatures will fall pretty quickly due to radiational cooling [when land surface cools rapidly at night releasing stored heat]. Plus, we live in a very dry climate. Clear skies and a lack of atmospheric moisture usually lead to chilly nights, despite it feeling like summer during the daytime.
Dentistry for Children and Young Adults
Tell us what you have been enjoying this winter! Hobbies, entertainment, music…
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I’ve been loving the extremities of this winter! I’m a homebody, so I love to curl up with a good book during a rainstorm. I’m currently reading “The Midnight Library,” by Matt Haig, and it’s been a treat to read during a rainy day! During those warmer days, I tease my freezing cold East Coast family with pictures from my hikes at Griffith Observatory, with music from Khruangbin or Olivia Dean blasting through my headphones. It’s been fun romanticizing this topsy turvy winter weather.
Do you have a spring trip or
Mayoral race
(Continued from Page 1) he thinks he is the right person to “fix Los Angeles.”
Larchmont Chronicle: Why did you decide to run for mayor?
Adam Miller: I’ve run multiple companies, but I’ve also run multiple nonprofits and, most recently, I’ve been hard at work as the CEO of Better Angels, a nonprofit that focuses on homelessness. That work over the last couple of years has gotten me much closer to the inner workings of the city. The deeper I went, the more troubled and frustrated I got with the state of the city. I have all the same issues every other resident has around dirty streets, broken sidewalks, broken streetlights, lack of safety, too much homelessness, not enough housing. But, in addition to working with multiple companies and nonprofits on trying to resolve the homelessness epidemic I saw firsthand as I got deeper into how the city works how truly dysfunctional and ineffective it was. I got more and
vacation planned? That’s the question ‘On the Boulevard!”
I’m heading up to the Bay Area for a little food, sports, and fun! The weather is usually still active and cooler up
more frustrated about it. Post Cornerstone (Miller’s successful education company), the goal of both me and my wife has been to get back into the community and have an impact. I realized my impact was limited, given what was going on in the city. If I really wanted to have maximum impact and help the most people in Los Angeles, the way to do that was being mayor. That’s why I’m running—to fix the city that is clearly broken.
L.C.: So, dig into the dysfunction a little bit with me. What did you feel was happening?
A.M.: There was a lack of accountability. There’s not a clear vision of how to solve these problems. There are very low expectations on performance and execution. There’s no accountability after the fact. The combination of all those things, with lack of fiscal responsibility and fiscal discipline, leads to very poor performance, which opens opportunities for fraud and corruption, and most importantly leaves the city with stuff not working. It is Management 101 and Econ
there during the springtime, and the marine layer can be pesky, but it is still beautiful. There’s so much to enjoy in this large state of ours, and spring is a great time to do so!
101—there’s a lot of parties to work with, but it can be done. The other thing I’ve seen firsthand is the lack of collaboration across Los Angeles. And, in that, I include the county. There’s a lot of infighting between the city and the county. You see that very clearly in the homeless sector—infighting between the mayor and City Council, and some infighting on the City Council itself. There’s a lack of vision, alignment, and execution across the board.
L.C.: I’ve heard one issue in being an effective mayor concerns the power within the City Council, which can diminish the mayor’s ability to accomplish goals.
A.M.: There are two different elements to that question. One is, obviously you want a mayor who’s good at collaboration. Somebody who is good at working with other people. Throughout my career, I have had to work with all sides to get things done in many different industries, sectors, and formats.
The other reality is, it’s not just about the City Council: it’s about the county, and other agencies in the city. We have not done a good job on this front by any stretch. There are things the county should be doing that the city doesn’t need to do. There are things the city council should be focused on to achieve their objectives that aren’t being supported by the mayor’s office. Of course, there needs to be compromise. Let’s not forget the federal government and the state government, right? We should be working better with the state and have some level of dialogue with the federal government. It’s just a reality. We might not like what’s going on, and we should be resisting what’s happening with ICE, even more forcefully than is being done today. But we also need subsidies and support. We’ve got to recover from the fires. We’ve got to fix our streets.
AUTUMN ROBERTSON receives inside information on weather. Illustration by Finn Walker
Mayoral race
(Continued from Page 20)
We need infrastructure dollars. You need somebody who knows how to build relationships and be effective across groups. Normally that means across the aisle in most cities. Here I think it means different flavors of Democrats working together. I want to answer the other pretext to your question, which is the power of the mayor. Some people think the mayor’s office is weak because of the power of the City Council. There is a tremendous amount the mayor can do without need for legislation. The mayor controls, to a large extent, the budget and agencies in this city. We have many workers, many divisions and departments which can operate better. Most of the things people want done are already authorized. I think a mayor with real operational excellence in mind can get a lot done in this city.
L.C.: Why do you think isn’t being done, or hasn’t been done in the past?
A.M.: We have people who are good at their current job, or good at legislation perhaps, but you put them in an executive role, and they don’t have the skills or experience to be effective.
L.C.: Do you think the city is ready for someone who isn’t a career politician, who is coming at this from a different perspective?
A.M.: I’m not beholden to anybody or anything, and I’m incorruptible because I don’t need any of that money. I’m going to pay myself a dollar and give the rest of the money to scholarships for kids in South and East L.A. My motivation is to fix the city for my kids and their friends. But, to do it now so we can all enjoy it while we’re still here. Right?
L.C.: There are a couple of key issues of recent interest to our community: one would be Senate Bill 79. I wanted to get your thoughts on that legislation.
A.M.: SB 79 is a punishment for our lack of movement on the housing issue. At the mo-
ment we deserve it, because housing starts are down 30% since 2019, and it’s arguably the single biggest issue around affordability. So, all these people were talking about affordability, but not addressing housing. I think we need to build dramatically more housing—not 10, or 20, or 50, or 100% more— dramatically more. We need to expedite construction, have better rules, have better processes, and have faster approvals and inspections. But we must do it in a way that preserves the character of the 99 neighborhoods that we have in this city. We can’t be putting giant buildings in the middle of residential neighborhoods with single-family homes. I’m a big supporter of the LCI (Livable Communities Initiative) and the whole idea of building livable communities on the outskirts of some of these neighborhoods, where we have commercial space and retail space that, quite frankly, is falling apart in these areas. There are other areas that are already more urbanized and have more buildings. We have dated buildings with four units that should have 12 or 20. We can do a better job of urban infill, where, again, we expedite permitting in construction and make it easier to build in the city.
L.C.: How would the L.A. Mansion Tax Measure ULA fit into that?
A.M.: ULA was a terribly drafted piece of legislation. People don’t realize that ULA, which was marketed as a mansion tax, charges that tax on affordable housing projects. I can’t think of anything more stupid than having a tax for affordable housing that applies to affordable housing. Doesn’t make any sense.
L.C.: The other big question on everybody’s mind is homelessness. We’ve thrown a ton of money at it some of which hasn’t been accounted for. Throwing more money at it doesn’t seem to be the right fix. What would you do differently?
A.M.: So the beauty here is
Gnostica Gnostic Christian Church Bishop Dr. Stephan Hoeller
it’s not theoretical—you don’t have to just listen to me—you can just see what I’ve already done. Better Angels is an extremely effective organization that’s been around for a couple of years and has become one of the most effective homeless reduction organizations out there in L.A. We’ve tackled the problem across five dimensions. You can read about it on the website betterangels.la, but essentially, prevention, services, shelter, technology, and housing. You can bucket it into those five things. In prevention, we’ve kept thousands of Angelenos off the streets who were already vulnerable; for instance those who were below 50% area median income, had received a financial shock, and had already received an eviction notice—we kept 97% of them housed. We have been building affordable housing with a goal of building within one-third of the time, and onethird of the cost, compared
to what the city is currently doing. We’ve been doing that with a brand-new affordable housing fund to build hundreds, ultimately thousands, of units of affordable housing. And thirdly, you’ve got to deal with the 44,000 people who are unhoused today in the city of L.A. and the 72,000 who are unhoused in L.A. County. That requires better service delivery, more efficiency in how we’re delivering the services, and leveraging interim housing. We’ve delivered services to over 12,000 unhoused individuals in L.A. in just a couple of years.
School news
(Continued from Page 19)
also funds our field trips to all the amazing places we go! Fri., April 24 is Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. I hope you all have an an amazing April!
ST. BRENDAN
Edward Garvan 8th Grade
L.C.: Is that scalable?
A.M.: 100% Everything we do at Better Angels is meant to be an example of what everybody should be doing. So, it would be reallocating funds which are being spent on some of these programs that simply aren’t working and putting it toward better programs and ideas like Better Angels.
L.C.: If you could sum it up in a nutshell, what would you say to our readers and residents of Los Angeles?
A.M.: If you think L.A. is broken and you want somebody to fix it, I am the best candidate for the next mayor of L.A.
excited for these sports and the upcoming opening night of the musical as we at St. Brendan are!
THE BUCKLEY SCHOOL
Lilah Feuerstein 10th Grade
At St. Brendan’s the varsity basketball team’s playoff runs have come to an end, but with the ending of one season comes the beginning of a new one, or multiple in this case. After a long wait, the boys volleyball team, girls soccer team, boys soccer team, and the largest team of them all, track and field, have all had their first practices and will start competing soon. The 2026 St. Brendan musical is “Shrek Jr.,” with two separate casts performing two nights each. I hope you are as
Our entire school gathered recently for our big red pep rally, where all of our spring athletic teams were introduced, completed with a rendition of our fight song guided by the Griffin mascot. Speaking more locally, our upper school production of “The Minutes” took stage last weekend, using fully student-designed set and costume wardrobe. In athletics news, our girls soccer team and boys basketball teams completed deep playoff runs, with girls soccer making history as the first Buckley team to advance to CIF division finals, and boys basketball taking down two higher-ranked schools to become
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Julian Eli Capata
February 1, 1941 – February 17, 2026
Julian Eli Capata, 85, of Los Angeles California, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on February 17, 2026, from complications due to pneumonia and Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia.
Sunday Eucharist 11:00am
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Wednesday Eucharist 8:30pm Lectures • Fridays • 8pm 3363 Glendale Boulevard, Atwater, Los Angeles • 323-467-2685 307
Wednesday Eucharist 8pm Lectures • Fridays • 8pm 2560 N. Beachwood Dr., Hollywood • 323-467-2685
Larchmont Mailshop
137 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004
Tel: 323.466.9050
Fax: 323.466.1035 E: mailshoppe@yahoo.com
9-6
10-3
10-3
Born on February 1, 1941, in Gary, Indiana, Julian was the first-born son of the late Julian Considine Capata and Rose (Simion) Capata. In 1954, the Capata family moved to Santa Monica, California where Julian graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1959. He was drafted into the Army where he served from 1963 until 1966, stationed at Fort Ord in Monterey, California. Upon discharge, Julian used his G.I. Bill to attend San Fernando Valley College, graduating in 1968. From there Julian attended Loyola Law School, where he was on the Law Review staff. Julian passed the California State Bar on his first attempt and was admitted to the Bar in
1972. In 1983, Julian started his own practice that he successfully ran until illness forced him to retire in 2023. Julian married the love of his life, Shirley Harb, in 1965. They bought their first, and only, house in the Brookside neighborhood in 1972, where they raised three children, and enjoyed a life full of adventure and love for over 60 years of marriage. Julian loved photography - you could always see him with the latest camera gear at family vacations and
events. He was a leader of his Church, St. Nicholas Antiochian Cathedral, serving on the Church Board for multiple years, and playing a key role in helping the Church open Cedars Manor in 1979, providing low-income housing for seniors. He was also active in the Wilshire Bar Association, and around the Hancock Park community. Julian is survived by his wife, Shirley; their children, Julian Fozi Capata (Lisa), Nicholas Peter Capata (Rachel) and Megan Marie Griffith (Ryan); their seven grandchildren, Cassidy and Marley Capata; Chelsea Maynard, Tyler and Conner Capata; and Owen and Timothy Griffith; his sister, Roseanne Danyluk; his brother, Gary Capata; and half-sister, Juliana Capata and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
Julian’s kind spirit, generosity, and compassion touched the lives of many. He will be deeply missed by his family, many friends, and all who knew him. Adv.
Ecclesia
ADAM MILLER, candidate.
Homelessness
(Continued from Page 1)
proach has leaned heavily toward the slowest and most expensive intervention: permanent supportive housing for people who have already spent months or years on the street. These projects often cost $600,000, $700,000, or even more than $800,000 per unit—and can take three to six years to deliver.
Meanwhile, roughly 75,000 people in Los Angeles County—including about 44,000 in the city—are experiencing homelessness. Most are unsheltered, living on sidewalks, in vehicles, or in encampments.
Against numbers like these, a strategy centered primarily on extremely expensive housing cannot possibly scale to match the crisis.
Los Angeles, in effect, has been attacking homelessness from the wrong end. The real leverage point is not the end of the pipeline. It is the beginning.
Most people do not initially become homeless because they suffer from severe disability or long-term addiction. The best available data suggests that only about 15%
to 20% of people have serious mental health or substance use issues when they first lose housing. For many, the initial cause is far more ordinary—a financial shock, a lost job, a medical bill, a family conflict, or simply the inability to keep up with rising rents.
If they are helped early—through modest rent subsidies or rapid placement into inexpensive housing— the cost to stabilize them can be relatively modest, often in the range of $10,000 to $50,000. With the right support, including job training and basic services, many can return to work, reconnect with family, and reenter the mainstream of society within months.
But if they are not helped quickly, everything changes. Street homelessness is not just a housing problem. It is a process—and it accelerates over time.
The longer someone remains outside, the more likely that a housing crisis turns into a behavioral health crisis. Addiction rises. Mental health deteriorates. Physical health declines. Trauma accumulates.
Within months, the numbers begin to flip. What may
start with roughly 15% to 20% of people struggling with serious behavioral health issues can rise dramatically—in some cases to 70% or more among those experiencing prolonged homelessness. In other words, homelessness itself makes people sicker. At that point, the system is not paying once—it is paying continuously. Public costs begin to stack up: emergency rooms, hospital stays, law enforcement, sanitation, and ongoing support services. Those costs can easily exceed $100,000 per person per year when all factors are considered. And unlike early interventions that resolve homelessness in months, these costs often continue for years.
That is the real difference. It is not simply that early intervention is cheaper. It is that delay turns a shortterm, solvable problem into a long-term, compounding one—both financially and humanly. This is why the first months of homelessness matter so much.
There is also a common misconception that many people experiencing homelessness prefer to live on the streets. While a small minority may
resist housing, the reality is more nuanced.
Most people want housing. What many reject is congregate shelter—large rooms filled with bunk beds, little privacy, and environments where one unstable or disruptive individual can affect everyone else. For many, the privacy of even a tent can feel safer and more manageable than those conditions. This is where interim housing becomes essential.
One model worth paying attention to is the community-based approach used by organizations like DignityMoves. This is not about putting up rows of flimsy structures. These are intentionally designed communities with private rooms, shared dining and gathering spaces, showers, and on-site services.
When people are living on the street, they are dispersed and difficult to reach.
Delivering consistent services—whether mental health care, addiction treatment, or job training—becomes extremely challenging.
But when people are in a defined community, everything changes. Providers know where they are. Services can be delivered consistently.
Job training, treatment, and support can take hold. People have a real chance to stabilize and move forward.
These communities can be built quickly and at a fraction of the cost of permanent supportive housing. Including services, the cost can be on the order of $40,000 per person per year—far less than the societal cost of allowing someone to remain on the street.
Other regions have begun to adopt this approach at meaningful scale. Los Angeles, despite the size of its crisis, has not.
Instead, the city continues to rely heavily on a model that produces a relatively small number of extremely expensive units over long periods of time—while tens of thousands of people remain outside waiting.
Homelessness is not only a humanitarian issue. It is also bad for safety, bad for neighborhoods, bad for small businesses, and bad for the overall health of the city.
Los Angeles does not need to choose between compassion and fiscal responsibility. In this case, they are the same thing.
Jon Vein is a co-founder and board member of DignityMoves.
Inside Safe—homelessness by the numbers from Mayor Bass’ office
After years of increases before Mayor Karen Bass took office, her Inside Safe program has driven a 17.5% decline in street homelessness, according to the mayor’s office.
It was the first decline in homeless mortality since records have been kept, Press Assistant Ilanna Morales told us in an email.
“We have a long way to go, but after years of rising homelessness, Mayor Bass
has proven that we can turn the tide. So far, nearly 6,000 people have moved from encampments indoors through Inside Safe.”
Soon after taking office late in 2022, Bass declared a state of emergency, allowing housing to be built quickly and cheaper than before. The results have met with mixed opinions. Critics cite high costs and many people returning back to the streets.
Her website cites, as of Feb. 28, 2026, 1,431 Angelenos have been permanently housed, and 121 total encampments have been addressed by the program.
SB 79
(Continued from Page 1)
Intended to address California’s housing crisis, the law has created much discontent with homeowners who fear their neighborhoods will soon be beleaguered by tacky, multistory luxury housing developments.
School news
(Continued from Page 21) a divisional quarterfinalist. Students look forward to the upcoming NYC trips—Model UN and the theater department will each spend four days in the city, and our upcoming spirit week, where grades battle for a coveted title.
LE LYCÉE FRANÇAIS DE LOS ANGELES
Cielle Khoury 7th Grade
MAPS from the March 10th city council meeting.
The Hancock Park Homeowners’ Association also joined the conversation at their most recent meeting on March 10. The meeting, held at the Marlborough School and the first in-person meeting of the HPHOA since the COVID-19 pandemic, was focused on SB79 and uniting the neighborhood not only in opposition of the bill, but in favor of the City Council’s adoption of Option One moving forward.
around all rail stations. Option Three permits the most development, allowing for seven-story developments around both rail and bus stations. All three options are an attempt by the City Council to minimize the intrusiveness of the bill while maintaining compliance with SB79’s housing density requirements.
HPHOA President Cindy Chvatal-Keane told attendees that SB79 would affect Hancock Park properties along Wilshire Boulevard immediately, with potential effects along La Brea Avenue as well, pending a decision by the Metro board to extend the K Line north along La Brea from its current terminus at Expo/Crenshaw.
ly important that we have flexibility. It gives us time to develop an alternative that complies with state law but reflects neighborhood context, infrastructure capacity, and fire safety realities.
“I opposed SB79 when it was in the legislature because I believe it is a poorly constructed bill,” stated Yaroslavsky. “A bunch of key definitions remain unclear, and follow-up legislation is being discussed in Sacramento to clarify portions of the bill. Even the bill’s author has acknowledged that they may be necessary.” The author in question is State
Sen. Scott Wiener from San Francico, who recently acknowledged a potential need to delay the bill.
Additionally, the Land Use Committee of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council met virtually to discuss the bill and hear opinions from local leaders March 2. Many neighborhoods within the council’s jurisdiction are affected by SB79, including Hancock Park, La Brea-Hancock, Sycamore Square, and Brookside. The committee voted to publicly support Option One regarding the implementation of the bill.
Larchmont
Lunar New Year was one of the big events last month with a Lion Dance performance. Students, parents, and teachers organized fun games, and we went on a field trip to practice our Mandarin skills. Our school offers an enriched curriculum all year long, with jazz performances, opera, theater, author visits, and field trips. Our high school students are enjoying their third year of the AP African American Studies course. For Black History Month, an art contest took place for 2nd to 12th graders. Students created original artworks inspired by the Peanuts character Franklin to remind us of friendship, respect, and inclusion. To honor our athletes, the school held its traditional Homecoming Party—a wonderful time bringing together students, alumni, and families around volleyball, food, and music. Go Lions!
Currently, the Council is weighing three implementation options, all of which would delay the effects of SB79 until 2030. Option One allows for buildings up to three stories around select “Opportunity Stations.” Option Two goes further, allowing developments up to seven stories to be built
Speaking at the HPHOA meeting was City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, who also spoke at a Miracle Mile Residential Association meeting in January to address concerns about SB79. Yaroslavsky matched the homeowners’ enthusiastic support on Option One, saying, “It gives us the most flexibility. I think it’s real-
Village Neighborhood Association
Serving the Larchmont community between Beverly and Melrose, Arden to Wilton Place
“The objective and purpose of the LVNA has, since 1987, been the preservation and enhancement of our neighborhood.”
The issue of unsafe driving plagues our local streets yet again. The blocks around Larchmont Boulevard and Clinton Street have been a particular problem recently as drivers look for east/west cut throughs to get around the overwhelmed segments of Melrose Avenue.
A very dangerous collision, which caused well over $1 million in damage, took place at the Larchmont Blvd and Clinton intersection recently.
Like many of the real problems in our city, it will take the efforts and focused attention of multiple stakeholders – CD 13, you – our neighbors, various city departments including the LAPD and the Department of Transportation plus constant communication to address this issue.
Our neighborhood has long led the way on proactively pushing the city to address traffic calming. The most visible tools the city uses, which you’ve seen spread across the neighborhood, are Speed Humps and additional stop signs.
Search “LADOT Residential Speed Humps Fact Sheet” or contact an LVNA Boardmember to get the details on what’s involved if you want to get involved.
Additionally, any resident can contact the West Traffic Division at 213473-0222 as well as our local LAPD Senior Lead Officers to request enforcement of traffic laws, including those pertaining to stop signs, speeding and unsafe illegal parking.
The LVNA is actively engaged in advocacy on this issue with CD 13 as well as the LAPD and the other parts of city government. We have a wealth of resources on this issue and support our neighbors in the effort to make our streets safer.
No one should be in fear of their lives walking, biking or driving on our streets!
As we’ve discussed, the city is now engaged in addressing the neighborhood problems stemming from the prostitution corridor on Western Avenue. CD 13, the District Attorney’s Office, the City Attorney’s office and the Olympic Division of LAPD are devoting real resources towards solving this problem. It is a testament to YOUR getting involved and advocacy which has resulted in this progress.
Please continue to take the initiative to improve lighting, erect signage and advocate for yourselves and our neighborhood!
LAPD and CPAB
Larchmont Village is served by two different LAPD Divisions. Wilshire Division serves those locations WEST of Gower, Olympic Division serves those locations EAST of Gower.
Both Divisions’ Community-Police Advisory Boards meetings meet monthly. These local volunteer groups are an essential communication link between residents, community leaders, and the police to discuss crime, safety, and quality-of-life issues.
CPAB meetings are hosted in person at the police stations and on Zoom. The Olympic Division CPAB in person meeting takes place on the first Wednesday of every month at 6 pm in their community room at 1130 Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90006.
The Wilshire Division CPAB meeting takes place on the third Thursday of the month at 6pm. If you would like to join, they request that you call the Wilshire Community Relations Officer @ 213-473-0200 or emailWilshirecro@lapd.online for instructions and to register.
The LVNA is non-partisan and works with every elected official However, we strongly encourage each and every local stakeholder to participate, ask questions and highlight local issues with our prospective representatives, See www.greaterwilshire.org for updates on candidate forums.
In Larchmont Village there are always new ideas and opportunities to further enhance our quality of life. If you have an idea or project on which you’re looking for support, we’ll connect you with a member who’s got exactly the right combination of interest and knowledge to help you get it off the ground. The solution to the problems of our community comes from participating, working together and making our voices heard. Reach out at www.lvna.info
You can write to the LVNA at: Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association 325 North Larchmont #294 Los Angeles, CA 90004
You can email the general LVNA box at lvna90004@gmail.com or President Charles D’Atri at lvgwnc@gmail.com
Section Two
April 2026
Multimedia art space
Gemini G.E.L. celebrates its 60th anniversary with a new exhibit, which includes “Figure 7,” by Jasper Johns, right.
Page 6
On the Boulevard LUNAversary marks one year. In attendence are Ann Loveland and John Duerler.
Page 8
HANCOCK PARK • WINDSOR SQUARE • FREMONT PLACE • GREATER WILSHIRE • MIRACLE MILE • PARK LA BREA • LARCHMONT
Candidates for state senator at meet & greet
By A.R. Johnstone Windsor Square residents
Dena Bloom and Robert Klyman hosted two meet and greets with candidates running for the State Senate race of District 26: Juan Camacho and Sara Hernandez.
The first event was with Camacho, whose family immigrated to Los Angeles from Mexico when he was a child. He is running for the vacated seat by Maria Durazo, who is not seeking reelection. Camacho’s platform is based upon “fighting” the Trump Administration, building affordable housing, creating access to affordable healthcare, advocating rights of LGBTQ people—the same promises that most candidates in California articulate on the campaign trail.
Camacho was introduced by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, who enthusiastically endorsed the candidate for the open seat. Dena Bloom facilitated a conversation with Camacho on issues ranging from Senate Bill 79 to immigration. He said he would have voted yes on SB79, however, he did say he would
(Please turn to Page 9)
ASSEMBLYMEMBER
for
CANIDATE Sara Hernandez spoke with neighbors in Windsor Square.
Temple Israel celebrates centennial
By Nona Sue Friedman
In 1926, seven men decided to found a temple that would serve the needs of Jews in Hollywood and Temple Israel of Hollywood was born. With its location in Hollywood proper, it’s no wonder that five of the original creators were prominent in the film industry. According to the TIOH website, “The congregation began to take shape with a special character—Jewish intellectuals with political and social awareness and close ties with the Hollywood artistic community.” One hundred years later this month, the temple still has that reputation.
According to Zach Lasker, TIOH’s executive director, “The initial group laid the seeds and the synagogue blossomed.”
The temple first bought a church on Ivar Street in 1930 with funds raised at a Monster Midnight Show held at the Pantages Theater. About 20 years later they moved to their current location at 7300 Hollywood Blvd. In 1957, TIOH bought Hillside Memorial Park and later added a mortuary that now serves the greater Jewish community throughout the region. Lask-
er said, “We take care of all life cycle moments, from cradle to grave.” Elizabeth Taylor’s conversion to Judaism and later, one of her weddings, took place here in 1959. As did Al Jolson’s funeral in 1950.
The artistic and socially active nature of the temple has brought many interesting figures over the years. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke from the same pulpit that’s still in the sanctuary today just days after Malcolm X was assassinated. Sammy Davis Jr. gave the lecture “Why I Am a Jew” in the same spot. Israel’s former Prime Minister Golda Meir was honored at a gala; later Congressman Adam Schiff spoke at a gala—and the list goes on.
The Hollywood figures that have helped raise funds — some of which have also been members—include Lucille Ball, Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor, George Burns with Gracie Allen, Ann Miller, Shirley MacLaine, Judy Garland, Marta Kaufman, and Matthew Weiner.
TIOH has three schools that in total educate 550 to 600 students annually, according to Lasker. Their nursery school, Bay-Nimoy Early
Childhood Center, received a generous donation from and is dedicated to Leonard Nimoy and his wife, Susan Bay. For the past 30 years, Temple Israel has hosted a festive Christmas dinner with all the trimmings and live music as well as toys, clothes, and necessities to give away for those in need. Lasker stated, “Part of our responsibility is (Please turn to Page 6)
CANIDATE
State Senate race of District 26 Juan Camacho (left), and Windsor Square neighbors Patti Carroll, Sam Uretsky, and Robert Reeves.
Rick Chavez Zbur with hostess Dena Bloom.
A PRESCHOOL TEACHER interacting with a student.
CELEBRATING THE SUCCESS of the temple’s capital campaign in 2014, Mitchell Schwartz of North Van Ness Avenue carries the torah through synagogue.
Photo by Andy Romanoff
Larchmont rings in Lunar New Year, El Coyote marks 95 years
No, it wasn’t your imagination. Larchmont Boulevard was closed to cars Feb. 22 for the first ever Larchmont Lunar New Year Community Celebration. The holiday took place Feb. 17, marking the start of the year of the Fire Horse, which in Chinese tradition symbolizes independence, innovation, and significant change. The community wanted to celebrate, so the street was blocked off, the shopping tents pitched, the families numerous, and the lions on the prowl! Revelers up and down the street could sample Asian cuisine, clothing, games, and books, or participate in crafts at over 40 booths that were designed to bring awareness to Asian cultures and history.
The jam-packed street performance schedule for the day included a dulcimer player, a lion dance, kung fu demonstrations, and a children’s fashion show. The lion dance (similar to a dragon dance) was performed by the Lau Martial Club, a seventh-generation, family-owned martial arts club. The 2,000-year-old tradition brought dozens of onlookers toward the stage. After the performance, the lions hit the pavement, where merrymakers followed them
Around the Town with Sondi Toll Sepenuk
up and down the street helping the lions to chase away bad luck and usher in prosperity.
It was clear that adults and children were having a grand old time as they gobbled up snow cones, crafted one-of-akind art pieces, and squealed with delight (and a bit of trepidation) at the sight of the bold and colorful lions wandering the street.
The event was supported, organized, and brought to life by Suá Supérette owner Stephanie Hjelmeseth and her partner Jing Gao; American Born Chinese Foundation founders Bonnie Yi Hyde and her husband, Brett Glatman; and the office of CD13 Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez.
• • •
El Coyote Mexican Restaurant on Beverly Boulevard celebrated its 95th anniversary March 5. Diners and regulars flocked to the location for 95-cent enchiladas and tacos, a mariachi band, a bit of birthday cake, and plenty of good vibes. The restaurant has been an L.A. staple since
1931, with customers returning again and again for cheese enchiladas, rice and beans, chicken and beef tacos, sizzling fajitas, friendly waitstaff and of course their famous and perfectly strong margaritas. The iconic landmark has been featured in movies and television shows throughout the decades, including Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and MTVs docudrama “The Hills.”
Owner Margie Christoffersen represents the third generation of her family to maintain the Los Angeles hotspot, after her aunt and uncle and her parents before her.
Marcella Kerwin, a reg-
ular, said, “El Coyote has a way of making everyone feel like family—a place where so many of us have shared meals, laughter, and memories. We are so lucky to have it in our community.”
We at the Larchmont Chronicle look forward to celebrating the 100-year anniversary in five years. In the meantime, L.A., there are plenty of tacos to go around!
See you at the Coyote!
CITY COUNCILMAN HUGO SOTO-MARTÍNEZ (far right) speaks at Lunar New Year alongside (from left) business owners Jing Gao and Stephanie Hjelmeseth and American Born Chinese Foundation founder Bonnie Hyde.
LONGTIME STAFF, Trini, and regulars enjoy a sweet treat to ring in 95 years of El Coyote.
EL COYOTE OWNER Margie Christofferson, center, celebrates with Miracle Mile residents residents Marcella and Jay Kerwin.
CHRISTINA CHUNG and daughter Olivia enjoy the street scene.
SNOW CONES were on the menu at the Lunar New Year celebration.
MAHJONG PLAYERS set up tables in the streets and played throughout the day.
SOLD: This home at 268 N. Norton Ave. in Windsor Square sold for $2.29 million in February.
Real Estate Sales*
Single-family homes
138 S. Hudson Pl.
Orchard puts overlooked fruit to good use
By Jack Brownlee
Volunteers gathered under the fruit trees in Beachwood Canyon, armed with fruit pickers and gathering baskets. Organized by Hollywood Orchard, they went out in the morning with empty hands and returned with nearly half a ton of excess fruit, which was promptly boxed and donated to food-charity groups across the city.
THIRTY-THREE BOXES of fruit were gathered by Hollywood Orchard and donated to charities.
Photo: Hollywood Orchard
topics such as recycled water usage and composting.
$6,600,000 900 S. Ridgeley Dr.
S. Sycamore Ave.
S. Wilton Pl.
$2,510,000
$2,480,000
$2,300,000 268 S. Norton Ave.
Condominiums
$2,290,000
901 S. Gramercy Dr., #205 $889,200
326 Westminster Ave., #304 $870,000
Maplewood Ave., #106 $755,000
W. Olympic Blvd., #5 $747,500 818 S. Lucerne Blvd., #205 $625,000
733 S. Manhattan Pl., #401 $619,900
358 S. Gramercy Pl., #306 $612,000
532 N. Rossmore Ave., #406 $522,000 533 S. St. Andrews Pl., #420 $520,000
647 Wilcox Ave., #2G $500,000
533 S. St. Andrews Pl., #416 $413,000
525 N. Sycamore Ave., #326 $405,000
*Sale prices for February.
Hollywood Orchard is a nonprofit organization founded in 2011 by Bill and Tamara Pullman, longtime residents of Beachwood Canyon. After seeing how much produce falls off fruit trees and sits rotting in peoples’ yards, the Pullmans rallied their community and asked homeowners if they could harvest the excess fruit while it was still ripe. Fifteen years later, Hollywood Orchard has become an organization that not only donates fruit products to local charities, but educates Angelenos with the hopes of a greener, more environmentally conscious Los Angeles.
“It’s all about building community,” said Tom Amandes, Hollywood Orchard board member. “We build community among the people who actually do the picking, and then we have a kitchen crew that works on amazing recipes.” Fruit picks consist of two crews: one crew which picks the fruit and one crew which processes it, packing most of them up for donations while turning a small portion into preserves
and other goods to sell. Sales help fund the Orchard.
Aside from their fruit-picking events, Hollywood Orchard hosts Farmers’ Circle events, where the organization brings in experts to educate neighbors on environmental and agricultural
The Orchard also works closely with nearby Cheremoya Avenue Elementary School, taking students to the trees and showing them how the harvest works. “It was amazing because so many of these kids are city kids,” said Amandes. “A lot of them were like, ‘Wow, so fruit just kind of grows on these trees and then you can pick it?’ and it’s like, ‘Yeah, that’s how it works!’” Upcoming Orchard events include a Farmers’ Circle on Sat., April 25, and a Memorial Day Paint ‘n’ Sip event on Mon., May 25. For more information visit hollywoodorchard.org.
Gemini G.E.L, celebrates 60 years of artistic collaboration
By Helene Seifer
It’s easy to drive by Gemini G.E.L. without noticing it, but that would be a mistake. The simple façade covers a true Los Angeles art gem. Not only is it the longest-running contemporary gallery and art publishing house in the city, but it is also a working studio for some of the most prominent names in art. On any given day over the last six decades, art luminaries such as Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, David Hockney, Julie Mehretu, Richard Diebenkorn, Tacita Dean, and Ed Ruscha could be found there working with master printers to create complex limited-edition fine art lithographs, etchings, silkscreens, mezzotints, woodcuts, and sculptures. Frank Gehry, with whom the studio worked on several prints, designed the building addition they needed when it was time to expand in 1976.
To date, Gemini G.E.L. has worked with nearly 80 artists—and not just anyone with a portfolio can work in their studios. Beginning with
Temple Israel
(Continued from Page 2)
to take care of our Hollywood neighbors.”
Big Sunday, a local nonprofit that has a constant rotation of ways to give back to the community, grew from the temple’s annual day of community service.
These are just a couple of the happenings that occupy a very robust calendar of events.
How is TIOH going to celebrate its 100 years?
The synagogue is creating an endowment to pave the way for the next 100 years. When the Chronicle spoke with Lasker, they had just raised $10 million. The key to this fund is to not touch the principal and use only the interest for annual needs. Lasker said, “It’s the gift that keeps on
RICHARD SERRA forcing ink through a mesh screen with his feet.
their very first artist, the late Josef Albers, artists must be invited.
Gemini G.E.L. was founded in 1966 by Stanley Grinstein and Sidney B. Felsen. Their daughters Suzanne Felsen and Ayn Grinstein are co-directors and co-owners with Ayn Grinstein’s sister Ellen Grinstein and Sidney Felsen’s widow, Joni Weyle Felsen.
“Working with an artist is a huge commitment,” stated Ayn Grinstein. Suzanne Felsen added, “It’s a yearslong discussion to try to find someone different. I
giving.” TIOH will be reaching out to its congregants to further fund the endowment. Lasker hopes the centennial gala they are hosting Thu., Dec. 3, will be a celebration of the success of the endowment campaign.
Other ways they are celebrating the past 100 years is with a coffee table book being compiled by a congregant. It’s due to be completed this summer. And a special mezuzah, a small parchment scroll placed in a case and affixed to a doorpost, is being designed by artist Amy Golant, who spent some time at TIOH as a child.
And, come July 1, TIOH will be ushering in a new senior rabbi, Mark Miller. This will be his third pulpit.
Lasker has been with TIOH
like to follow an artist for a long time, see their trajectory.”
“People think we’re in the back printing money, but it’s like making a movie. It needs a team,” said Grinstein. The team includes four etchers, two lithographers, two silkscreen printers, and four experts in quality control.
Grinstein summarized, “It’s time consuming!”
The gallery’s current exhibit, “Impressions of Los Angeles: 60 years of Printmaking at Gemini G.E.L,” is the first of a two-part series celebrating their milestone anniversary.
Curated by published Western print afficionado Susan Dackerman, an art history lecturer at UCLA, the exhibit is divided into themes that reflect upon the city through many artists’ Gemini G.E.L. works, including Hockney’s prints “Sun” and “Mist,” Ruscha’s “Pico and Sepulveda,” and Robert Rauschenberg’s “L.A. Uncovered #2.”
Mehretu has been working with Gemini G.E.L. on four five-layer aquatint etchings for the last three-and-a-half
for five years. When asked what he likes about the temple he said, “I had fallen head over heels in love with the community as a creative, safe, inclusive, and holy space. The vibrant nature of this community drove me to want to work here.”
years. Gemini’s master printers have been working with Serra for 52 years, publishing 362 print editions with him.
Unlike most other art publishers, Gemini G.E.L. will “work with an artist to figure out a way to get what they need and want,” explained Felsen.
“At first Richard Serra did not want to do prints because they had to be protected behind glass. So, we invented a technique for texture, which could be displayed without glass. An oil stick bar goes through a meat grinder. After that it goes into an industrial mixer and is mixed with etching ink and silica. The material is then hand applied. The prints can often take a total of two to three months to dry.”
“Once Robert Rauschenberg pushed us to do the most important print ever, ‘Inner Man,’” said Grinstein. He had X-rays taken of his body, resulting in six plates that he wanted to use in his work. Grinstein noted, “There was no press that big, No paper that big. So, we had to make that.”
Front page photo: Al Jolson’s funeral held at Temple Israel of Hollywood Oct. 26, 1950, the congregation’s largest event. An estimated 22,000 people crowded the streets surrounded the synagogue to pay their respects.
BRISKIN ELEMENTARY
Emme Feldsher Goldberg 6th Grade
March was another exciting month, highlighted by our school’s celebration of Purim.
To celebrate, we fulfill the mitzvah of Matanot
La’Evyonim, caring for those in need. This year, our students donated and assembled hygiene kits for the Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles (jfsla.org). The 6th-grade students also read from the Megillah, a Hebrew scroll recounting the story of Purim, and performed a Purim Spiel. We also had a 6th-grade poetry slam where each of us wrote an original poem and shared it with fellow students and parents.
G.E.L. stands for Graphic Editions Limited. No one knows what the “Gemini” part means. “The space program was big in the sixties, so maybe…?” pondered Felsen.
A fitting idea, since the artistic collaborations emanating from the studio reach for the stars.
“Impressions of Los Angeles: 60 Years of Printmaking at Gemini G.E.L.” is on view through Fri., May 1. Gemini G.E.L., 8365 Melrose Ave., geminigel.com; 323-6510513.
The 2nd grade has been studying tide pools and took a field trip to the Leo Cabrillo; 1st grade is raising six chickens; 5th grade learned about the American Revolution as students explored the stories of important women. The 6th grade is deep into rehearsals for our school production of “Peter Pan.” We recently had our first rehersal with Duffy the Dog, as Nana—a real scene stealer!
PRESENT DAY Temple Israel of Hollywood. WEDDING OF Elizabeth Taylor to Eddie Fisher in 1959. Rabbi Max Nussbaum, “Hollywood’s Rabbi,” officiated
Fake news and historic April Fools’ hoaxes
By Helene Seifer
Last year the Larchmont Chronicle reported on some classic April Fools’ Day jokes, including perhaps the best one of all: In 1957 the BBC showed a Swiss family happily harvesting a bumper crop of spaghetti from their pasta orchard. People around the world fell for it.
In addition to the spaghetti trees, in 1965 the BBC announced they were testing new Smell-O-Vision technology. Thousands of people reported that it worked! Then, in 1980, the BBC notified their audience that Big Ben was going digital and its clock hands, now useless, would be given away to the first four callers. They were inundated with calls!
The German newspaper Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung revealed in 1935 that a pineapple-shaped water tower in Hawaii actually held pineapple juice that was directly piped into the homes of employees of the Dole pineapple company. Who needs water when you have free fruit juice?
Swedish National Television aired a special in 1962 to explain scientifically how tying a stocking in front of the TV would allow viewers to see the programs in color—and many viewers tried it!
The French newspaper Le Parisien claimed in 1986 that plans were underway to move the Eiffel Tower to Disneyland Paris. We’re still waiting.
In a fit of patriotism, Taco Bell announced in 1996 it was reducing the nation’s debt by buying the Liberty Bell and renaming it “The Taco Liberty Bell.”
ESPN reported in 2016 an exciting new Olympic sport that combined brains and brawn: chess boxing! Not to be outdone, the Olympics Committee itself announced the following year the upcoming inclusion of the sport
Expedia offered deals on time travel vacation packages in 2018. Even though the biggest time jump was just crossing the International Date Line, the next year people believed they could purchase a Home Depot do-ityourself time machine kit.
Food and snack companies, which offer outlandish products IRL, such as pumpkin-spice this and flaming-hot that and seasonal, sriracha-flavored candy canes, have gone to extremes with fake offerings on the first day of April. In 2016 Doritos announced they were selling silent chips to eliminate the dreaded crunching sounds perpetrated by snackers in movie theaters. Oreos introduced clear cookies in 2018. Did you see them? Although it would be a strange snack, people believed H&M in 2019 when they claimed to be stocking up on new edible clothing.
KFC and Burger King were on the same wavelength on April Fools’ Day 2017 when they respectively announced chicken-flavored and Whopper-flavored toothpastes. The burger chain told another “whopper” the following year with an ad for burger-scented shampoo.
Defenseless animals have frequently been dragged into the April joke scene. Austra-
Mile is sparkly clean thanks to community
By Jack Brownlee
Dozens of people met March 14 at Wilshire Green Park in Miracle Mile for Operation Sparkle, the annual beautification project coordinated by the Miracle Mile Residential Association. After mingling over coffee and donuts, participants spread down Wilshire Boulevard between Fairfax Avenue and La Brea Avenue with trash bags and pickers, brooms, and dustpans.
MMRA Vice President Samantha Friedland is the driving force behind the yearly event. “It gets the community out and together for a good common cause,” said Friedland. “I would love for this to be a citywide event rather than just focusing on Miracle Mile. How amazing would it be if it could be in all different neighborhoods?”
The heat picked up as the morning progressed, but the community cleaners continued up and down Wilshire, filling countless trash bags. “I feel that this is a fabulous historical neighborhood and we need to put some pride into it, to clean it up, to make it more livable,” said MMRA Board Member Paula Yerman. She continued, “I’m tired of seeing trash cans that have overflowed on the street. It has a dead feeling to it, and we want [the area] to come alive.”
While several of the partici-
lia, in 2013, warned tourists to avoid the Drop Bears, koala-like creatures that randomly plopped out of trees. Various news outlets over the years have reported flying dogs, talking dogs, invisible dogs, an invisible bird, and a cat meow translator.
At the end of the day, who among us hasn’t fallen for at least one April Fools’ joke at some point in our lives?
The best response to the embarrassment of being a fool might be to jump into BMW’s 2013 model Invisible Car and drive away!
pants were longtime members of the MMRA, many other local residents, like Cora and Matt, turned out after seeing one of the signs posted around the area. “I volunteered in Altadena last weekend building some of the houses that were burned down, and I felt so good after. I felt so alive,” said Cora. “I feel like it’s good to get out and just be a part of a community,” Matt added.
Operation Sparkle culminated outside the El Rey Theatre with brief speeches by community leaders. Thao Tran, business development deputy for City Council District 5, highlighted upcoming community events such as the debut of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s new David Geffen Galleries in April and the opening of several
CHRIST THE KING
King Hernandez 8th Grade
On March 7, the Gold and Silver Academic Decathlon teams competed in the Junior High Academic Decathlon hosted at St. Mary’s Academy.
Several students earned impressive placements: Francis Benico placed first overall in English and will advance to Nationals, Xander Bugay earned second place in Science, Jaxon Chan Lopez received second place in Fine Arts, and Grace Espinoza placed third in
new Metro D Line Stations May 8. LAPD officers spoke of the area’s low crime rate compared to the rest of Los Angeles and educated community members on ways to keep crime low.
Refreshments were free for all participants, with breakfast coming from SK’s Donuts, tacos from El Cartel Mexican cafe, and coffee from Starbucks. Participants also received free admission to LACMA’s Geffen Galleries when they open to the public on May 3, as well as skincare products from Kiehl’s. “[The MMRA] did a wonderful job organizing,” said local resident Forrest. “Businesses here have donated things, which I think is wonderful. It’s a great way for businesses to be recognized.”
Religion.
Students also participated in new learning experiences, including the Vikings Mock Trial, where students practiced presenting arguments and working as a team. Third, 4th, and 5th grade students enjoyed a special field trip to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for a live performance of the German Opera Tales highlighting Hansel and Gretel, Das Rheingold, and The Abduction from the Seraglio.
As Easter approaches, students look forward to Easter break and a special Easter egg hunt for TK and kindergarten students, complete with a surprise visit from the Easter Bunny.
ANNUAL SPAGHETTI HARVEST! (April Fools’!) A recreation of a classic hoax from 1957.
VOLUNTEERS GATHERED at Wilshire Green Park to help clean the neighborhood.
Fresh cardamom, easier crust is key to this raspberry tart
Growing up in an Indian household, I was introduced to spices early. There’s a common misconception that spice simply means spicy, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Cinnamon and cloves bring warmth. Turmeric and cumin bring earthiness. Each spice is layered thoughtfully to build flavor in tiny percentages that leave a mighty impression.
And while we’re on the topic of breaking stereotypes, bringing spice into desserts has always made me feel a bit like a renegade.
I had the pleasure of living in Mumbai for a couple of years just before the pandemic, and the aromatic headiness of cardamom always transports me right back there. Often used in chai and Indian sweets, it’s one of those ingredients that lingers in the air as much as on the palate. In recent years I’ve found myself experimenting with it more and more in Western desserts—and this month’s recipe is a perfect example.
Now, I’ll admit something: I’ve always found tarts a bit labor intensive. There’s the pastry, the chilling, the rolling, the pre-baking. It can all feel like rather a lot of faff for a humble dessert.
Then I came across a wonderfully simple method from writer and chef Alison Roman. Instead of traditional pastry, she makes a dough that’s closer in texture to Play-Doh,
Something’s Cooking
by Jai Dattani
pressed straight into the tart tin. No rolling. No chilling. No blind baking. It’s the sort of clever shortcut that makes you wonder why you ever did it the other way.
This month’s recipe is loosely inspired by her blueberry cornmeal tart, but with raspberries and a generous perfume of cardamom.
Raspberry tart
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F.
Lightly crush five to seven cardamom pods with a mortar and pestle. Remove the green husks and give the black seeds another bash until you have roughly half a teaspoon of ground cardamom. You can use the pre-ground variety if you must, but freshly crushed cardamom has a vibrancy that’s hard to match.
In a bowl, combine 200 grams of flour, 50 grams (1/4 cup) of cornmeal, 75 grams (1/3 cup) of sugar, one teaspoon of baking powder, the ground cardamom, and a pinch of salt.
Melt one and a half sticks of butter and stir in two tablespoons of honey. Pour this into the dry ingredients and mix until you have a crumbly dough. It won’t quite hold together but should feel more pliable than streusel.
Set aside about one-third of the mixture. Press the
remaining dough into a nineinch loose-bottom tart pan. This takes a few minutes, but using the bottom of a measuring cup helps flatten the base and push the dough neatly up the sides. Trim any excess from the edges and pop the tart shell into the fridge while you prepare the filling.
In another bowl, combine 225 grams (1 3/4 cups) of fresh or frozen raspberries, two tablespoons of cornstarch or flour, 50 grams (1/4 cup) of sugar, and the juice of half a lemon.
Then add my secret ingredient: one teaspoon of orange blossom water. It’s a brilliant addition anytime you’re baking with fruit. Somehow it makes fruit taste… fruitier. You can find it locally at
Cookbook on Larchmont, and a single bottle will last you ages. If you can’t track it down, the zest of half a lemon or orange works beautifully as well.
Tumble the fruit mixture into the tart shell, then crumble the remaining dough over the top like a streusel. It won’t fully cover the tart and that’s perfectly fine.
Bake for about 50 minutes, until the top is lightly golden and the raspberries are bubbling beneath the crust.
Allow the tart to cool for at least 90 minutes before removing the sides of the pan. (I usually place the tart on an upturned bowl to slide the ring off.) I leave the base in place and simply cut slices
from it when serving.
It’s lovely served with a dollop of whipped cream or a spoonful of crème fraîche.
I hope you give this one a go and share it with friends and loved ones—ideally on a warm Los Angeles evening, and perhaps with a chilled glass of rosé wine.
I’ll see you next month.
LUNAversary marks group’s first year
It’s been one year since LUNA made waves as the newest neighborhood association to form in the area. To mark the momentous occasion, the group threw a LUNAversary potluck breakfast March 1 in the parking lot of Hancock Homes. The morning event featured a plethora of home-baked treats and plenty of coffee to keep attendees caffeinated. Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez stopped by to give the group a plaque commemorating their oneyear anniversary.
Elsie Louk has been a member since LUNA’s inception and finds it’s a good way
On the Boulevard
to get to know people in the area. “We don’t have kids or a dog and this is a great way to meet people while also contributing to the community with aligned goals for the neighborhood,” Louk said.
• • •
With most of March in the rearview mirror, a wave goodbye to the last of Girl Scout cookies! All their wonderful flavors and calls to support their efforts are finished for this year. See you next year, young entrepreneurs!
• • •
After electricity to the town clock and irrigation system were finally fixed after being absent for about one-year, new plants have been placed and are in bloom. Romi Cortier, president of Larchmont Boulevard Association, “has a vision for color, which I love,”
said Lisa B. of B. Virgo Designs and Landscaping, who designed the area.
Cortier and Lisa have been working hand in hand to get
EASY TO ASSEMBLE raspberry tart.
MINGLING WITH MEMBERS is LUNA board member Annie O’Rourke.
OFFICERS DANNY CHAVEZ (center) and Alex Cho speak with LUNA member Dylan Kendall.
Mother Wolf offers sumptuous Roman cuisine in elegant setting
Chef Evan Funke is a meticulous chef whose handmade pasta-based culinary vision explores Italian regional traditions. He first came to acclaim in 2013 with the now defunct Bucato, in the Helms Bakery Building, later resurfacing in 2017 at Felix in Venice. His empire has since expanded to Mother Wolf in Hollywood, Funke in Beverly Hills, and restaurants in Las Vegas, Chicago, and Miami, all featuring his signature al dente pasta perfection.
Mother Wolf, which offers a delicious homage to the dishes of Rome, was an impossible reservation to get when it opened in 2022 despite the enormity of the 150-seat dining room. Things have calmed down since, although it was completely packed on a recent Monday evening, so reservations are still advised. There’s also the new, adjacent, clublike Bar Avola, serving small Italian bites, which is a wildly popular option.
The restaurant is exquisite-
On the Blvd.
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the beds planted. Each donated a crepe myrtle tree that will bloom with hot pink flowers. The beds are filled with as many native options as possible, according to Lisa.
The last element needed to finish the beds is boulders. The LBA is looking for donations. Zelle donations to larchmontspecial@gmail.com to help.
• • •
Interior construction has begun at Go Greek at 148 N. Larchmont Blvd. One of the workers at the site revealed they anticipate being open in about one month. One can almost taste it. Get ready for froyo on the Boulevard in May!
On the Menu
by Helene Seifer
ly elegant, with plush pink banquettes, regular table seating, bar seating, antiqued mirrors inlaid in wooden columns, large bistro chandeliers with multiple arms with charming round bulbs, and a scattering of greenery. The service is exceptional; professional and attentive without being stuffy. Servers wear crisp white jackets, fill water glasses promptly, and fold napkins neatly when a guest gets up from the table. It’s a white tablecloth restaurant without any white tablecloths. We felt pampered. My husband and I had wanted a special dinner for us and our daughter, who was visiting from New York, and we got one.
Our cocktails were quite good: an ice-cold dirty martini, sugar-rimmed lemon drop, and a perfectly bittersweet
CONSTRUCTION IS MOVING forward
negroni. The sommelier introduced himself, and I ordered a food-friendly glass of Sicilian red. Dishes we ordered were properly coursed out, starting with chicory Caesar salad. A mountain of mixed chicories in a vinegary anchovy dressing, showered with a flurry of Pecorino Romano cheese was terrific and satisfyingly crunchy.
The ricotta-stuffed squash blossoms that followed might be the best I’ve ever eaten. Five large blossoms sported a delicate, crackly coating and contained highly seasoned ricotta filling. These are a must-order, as were the South Pacific blue prawns. Succulent, large, garlicky head-on prawns rested in a puddle of green garlic salsa verde so good we took the leftover sauce to-go to sop up with bread at home.
It would be a crime not to order pasta from the twice James Beard-nominated chef and handmade pasta master, so even though branzino with
Bloom
(Continued from Page 2) have collaborated more closely with the legislature to see how it could work better in areas like Windsor Square. Camacho feels that we must do better at providing healthcare to all Angelenos. When asked how he would propose to pay for the increased costs of healthcare and other programs the answers were somewhat vague, other than stating that we will have to raise taxes.
He was adamant that he would not be supportive of a change to Proposition 13 and that any proposed wealth tax would have to be thought through as to not have high earners leave the state.
spinach and pine nuts and ribeye cap with french fries and arugula called to us, we went for two pasta dishes— and we were not disappointed. Spaghetti all’ arrabiata was beautifully al dente with the requisite fiery tomato sauce. Cacio e pepe, a simple Roman staple traditionally made with only pasta, cracked black pepper, Pecorino Romano, and a few spoonfuls of pasta water, was creamy, peppery, and cheesy, with a toothsome bite. The savory sauce completely coated the tonnarelli’s fat, squared pasta strands. Favoloso!
Full, but not ready to leave the lovely meal behind quite yet, we shared a velvety tiramisu. Espresso-and-marsala-soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone, and Madagascar chocolate dust hit all the right dessert notes.
We will definitely be back.
Mother Wolf; 1545 Wilcox Ave.; in the former Hollywood Citizen News building; 323515-1077; motherwolfla.com.
Camacho genuinely feels he wants to make Los Angeles and California a better place to live, although he’ll have to act fast as he will be taking on a role that will require instant action and solutions.
The following weekend the second of the candidates, Sara Hernandez, spoke. Hernandez has been a schoolteacher, volunteer at a nonprofit, and a land use attorney at DLA Piper. She grew up in Salinas and has called Los Angeles home for the last couple of decades. She stated her goals were for affordable housing, transparency, better communication with constituents, and clean and safer streets.
When asked how she would have voted on SB79, she too
said she would have voted “yes,” with a caveat. An interesting point that came out of the Q&A was there are certain cities that got “carve outs” for neighborhoods in their districts—our state senator at the time did not request those carve outs for our neighborhoods. She said she would have.
Hernandez’s experience as a land use and real estate attorney would seem to be very useful in respect to the housing dilemma that the city faces. Again, the issue for most voters is that promises are made on the campaign trail, but when reality sets in, the bureaucracy and special interests play a major role in what can be accomplished.
SUCCULENT PRAWNS in green garlic salsa verde.
RICOTTA-STUFFED squash blossoms, dirty martini.
VIEW OF DINING ROOM with mirrored columns.
GIRL SCOUTS selling the last of the cookies on the Boulevard. (From left) Everly Choi, Yara Hamilton, and Monroe Stewart.
NATIVE PLANTS FILL the beds at the Boulevard clock.
at Go Greek.
‘Dragon Mama’ is elevated by Porkalob’s dynamic characters
Jeffrey Bernard, in case you didn’t remember, was the longtime (1976–1997) columnist for the London “Spectator,” and a “charming drunk,” as his 1997 obituary put it. His column, “Low Life,” focused on the Runyonesque characters who inhabited London’s Soho district when it was a much seedier, but more colorful, place than it is today. To call his drinking habits “charming” is an understatement. He would often be so hungover that he would miss his deadline, and his publishers would replace his column with the notice “Jeffrey Bernard is unwell.” This later became the title of a hit play by Keith Waterhouse (based on Bernard’s columns) starring Peter O’Toole. (A film version of the Old Vic production is available on YouTube.)
I mention this bit of journalistic trivia only because your columnist had been unwell,
not from any binge-related “lost weekend” but from the stomach bug that seems to be making the rounds, and thus missed covering two shows (see below) that I was very much interested in.
I did get to see Part II: Dragon Mama, the second of Sara Porkalob’s “Dragon Cycle” plays at the Geffen Playhouse’s smaller theater, through Sun., April 12. Developed at Seattle’s Intiman Theatre, the production puts the energetic Ms. Porkalob on a bare platform stage with a single chair (and very sophisticated light and sound design support) to narrate the second chapter in her family saga.
Like “Part I: Dragon Lady,” “Dragon Mama” is about the Filipina American Porkalob women finding (and surviving) their path: first her gangster-adjacent, cabaret-singing grandmother, and
Review by Louis Fantasia
here her own mother, Sara Porkalob Jr., who struggles with identity, her family, and her inner demons, until she breaks free, moves to Alaska to work on a fishing boat, finds true love, and is reunited with her daughter, who will be the focus of part three. Certainly Porkalob’s family is interesting, but as Tolstoy wrote, every family is unique in its misery. What justifies coming back to the theater for a second helping (and I assume, a third) is Porkalob’s dynamic, colorful, and, yes, charming portrayals of her cast of characters. She switches effortlessly from mother to brother to boss to lover, daughter, and more, giving each character a clean delineation and a clear background.
Everybody gets a fair hearing; people’s failings are accepted as the price of living; and surviving and thriving is cause for celebration, which the audience obviously shares. Did the evening strike me more as test drive for an HBO comedy special than a play? Yes, but, more and more, that seems where play “development” is headed, so, I guess, nothing wrong there. It’s still a touching tale of family misfits told with wry humor, tough love, and, above all, compassion. Jeffrey Bernard would have approved. 310-208-2028; geffenplayhouse.org.
What to watch for
I missed Rogue Machine’s L.A. premiere of Fairview, at the Matrix through Sun., April 19. Written by Jackie Sibblies Drury, the 2019 Pulitzer Prize winner is directed by Oz Scott, whose directorial work is rarely seen on L.A. stages. 323-852-1445;
roguemachinetheatre.org. Also missed was Elmer Rice’s 1923 play The Adding Machine, which gets a revival at The Actors’ Gang (through Sat., April 18). When Mr. Zero, after 25 years on the job as an accountant, asks for a raise, he is replaced by an adding machine. Sound familiar? Theactorsgang.com.
L.A. Opera brings Falstaff, Verdi’s comic masterpiece based on Shakespeare’s “Merry Wives of Windsor,” to the Music Center, Sat., April 18, to Sun., May 10. 213-9728001; LAOpera.org.
English by Sanaz Toossi and directed by Knud Adams plays at the Wallis from Sun., April 4, to Sun., April 26. The quietly powerful play about four Iranian adults preparing for an English language exam is perhaps even more relevant now than when it earned its Pulitzer in 2023. 310-7464000; thewallis.org.
Tom Bergin’s celebrates its 90th year on St. Patrick’s Day
By Sondi Toll Sepenuk
L.A.’s oldest Irish bar, Tom Bergin’s celebrated 90 years of keeping the neighborhood “refreshed.”
This year’s St. Patrick’s Day bash at the historic 1936 venue was another one for the ages. On March 17, die-hards
showed up at 6 a.m. for a traditional Irish breakfast, with choices of corned beef hash, brussels sprouts, smashed potatoes, honey mustard and scrambled eggs, or the Bergin’s Slam, featuring sliced corned beef, crispy mashed potatoes, and scrambled eggs.
By noon, every table was packed both inside and out.
The 98-degree heat was no joke, but the die-hards weren’t bothered. If you were lucky enough to have found a seat at one of the picnic tables outside, the revelers enjoyed music, an Irish lunch, a live bagpiper, Guinness beer, green beer, Irish coffees (yes, even in the heat—these crazy people!!) and a new addition to this year’s menu of libations: pickle beer! By 4 p.m. the line out front stretched from the Bergin’s entrance all the way to 8th Street, everyone wanting a piece of the St. Patrick’s Day action in the city’s place to be.
The extravaganza was celebrated by city officials and neighborhood leaders with
BROTHERS AND OWNERS
David and Francis Castagnetti on stage with CD5 Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky. several commendations to the historic institution, including by Council District 5 Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, Jennifer Hull from Mayor Karen Bass’ office, and Michelle Persoff from State Assemblymember Isaac Bryan’s office. The commendations were presented to owners and brothers Francis and David Castagnetti, who thanked everyone who worked so hard to keep Bergin’s open through both good and hard times. With the soon-to-be-opened La Brea/Wilshire and Fairfax/
CROWDS WERE THICK at the 98-degree celebration.
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Theater
To happy lunar returns: Astrology and etymology of the eclipse
Last month opened with a total lunar eclipse.
In the early hours of March 3, visible over northeast Asia, northwestern North America, and the central Pacific Ocean, the moon passed into the Earth’s umbral shadow, reaching its totality at 3:04 a.m. Pacific Time.
When the ancients saw the dimmed full moon, they suspected the worst—that the watchful orb was being devoured whole by wild beasts or that it portended some other ill fate. The Mesopotamians believed the lunar eclipse signaled an imminent attack on their king by seven demons. Armed with the astronomical know-how to predict eclipses, they would install a surrogate leader in the days leading up to the event to bear the brunt and leave the true king unscathed. While the decoy didn’t hold any true power, he was treated well, though
Bergin’s
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Wilshire D Line Metro stations, Yaroslavsky said, “this stretch of Wilshire is becoming one of the most active cultural corridors in the city …it means more people, more activity, more energy in this neighborhood, small business foot traffic coming back in a really big way…and Metro is already planning a rail line to connect this area to LAX, to West Hollywood, and the Hollywood Bowl. Places like Tom Bergin’s are rooting this community in place, making itself continue to feel like home for all of us…so cheers to 90 years and sláinte to the next 90!”
Spotted throwing back a pint or two or three of Guinness beer were Eileen Lanza, the Lancaster family, the Houlihan family, Ellie Goralnick and Laura Browder, Ed De La Torres, Tom Lockyer and Catherine Mann.
PAGE ACADEMY
Naya Savodivker 6th Grade Happy Spring! Page Academy welcomed the season with several exciting activities.
We kicked things off with Read
once the eclipse passed he was swiftly disposed of, likely by poisoning.
In astrology, when the moon is obscured we’re said to be thrown into chaos. The moon, our mother, is missing. Our world shattered, we regress into our earliest memories of fear and abandonment, our amygdalar neurons firing as we flail, drowning, pawing around in the dark for something stable to hold onto...or perhaps just get three parking tickets in the span of a week.
The etymology agrees. “Eclipse” originates from the Greek “ékleipsis” ( κλειψις), meaning “an abandonment,” from the words “ek” (out) and “leipein” (to leave), the latter arriving from the Proto-Indo-European “leikw.”
The term was used to describe the sporadic darkening of the moon at least as far back as the 5th century B.C., when Greek philosopher Anaxagoras correctly theorized the mechanism behind the celestial phenomenon.
Say you were to “abandon” the letter “c” in “eclipse” and replace it with an “l”? “Ellipse,” the word for a set of points in a plane defined by two fixed points (think of a stretched circle), arrives from the same root as “eclipse”— the aforementioned “leikw,” meaning “to leave”—so called because the shape falls short of being a perfect circle. To confuse things further, the word entered astronomical parlance in 1604, when German astronomer Johannes Kepler concluded that all planets in our solar system move around the sun in an
Across America Day, where older students read to younger students while everyone enjoyed wearing their favorite pajamas. On March 7, our community came together for the Bloom Event, spending the day installing new planters and revitalizing our school garden. We wrapped up the month with fun Easter activities, including a special visit from the Easter Bunny and an exciting egg hunt before spring break.
“elliptical” orbit.
Drop that last “e” from “ellipse” and add an “is.” The “ellipsis,” the formal name for three consecutive periods used in text, is a stand-in for “left out” words, also arriving from “leikw” and first named as a grammatical device in the 1560s. Used in place of a period at the end of a sentence, the ellipsis might build suspense or allude to something yet to come. It stands in as a typographic eyeroll or awkward silence, or a “typing awareness indicator,” a three-dot torture device seemingly designed only to taunt you as you wait for a response to that “What are we?” text. (And you deserve it if you skipped on asking in person. But I digress...)
A more distant relative borne from the root “leikw” is the word “eleven,” which pairs it with the Gothic word
meaning “one,” eventually developing into the Old English “enleofan,” meaning “one left” (over ten). The next integer up, “twelve,” pairs the Proto-Germanic word for— you guessed it—”two” with “leikw” to form the Old English “twelf,” meaning “two left” (over ten). The train stops there though, as the rest of the numbers in sequence up through 19 use a single-digit number in conjunction with “teen,” from the Old English “tene,” or “ten.”
Another jog around the Earth
At 5 a.m. on March 3, the blood-red phantasm of the moon shifted fully out of the veil of darkness. Tracing the path of its elliptical orbit, the lunar orb reentered its perpetual cycle of leaving and returning, the balance here on Earth restored. For now...
Marionettes to head to Coachella
By Nona Sue Friedman
The marionettes from Bob Baker Marionette Theater are hitting the road and heading to Indio, California, to take the stage at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Yes, that’s right, Fridays April 10 and 17 the marionettes will be on the same stage as Sabrina Carpenter, Nine Inch Noize, Devo, Foster the People, and a slew of other musical acts.
With regards to Coachella, MJ Thompson, BBMT’s director of communications, wrote in an email, “You can expect special guests and surprises! Our performance is focused on bringing JOY to all who watch it!”
Also happening in April is the 12th Annual Bob Baker Day. The birthday celebration of the theater’s namesake creator takes place Sun., April 13, at the L.A. State Historic Park, 1245 N. Spring St., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The park will
Students took a walking field trip to Chevalier’s Books and hosted our on-campus Scholastic Book Fair, celebrated Earth Day by planting in our garden, and enjoyed our annual International Day.
be taken over by BBMT with three stages, puppet performances, strolling clowns, music, and art activities. It’s a colorful, festive celebration. Admission is free, but registration at bobbakerday.com is required. A $25 donation is suggested.
More on the horizon from this little theater is their first new show in 40 years. “Choo Choo Revue” is coming to the theater, at 4949 York Blvd. in Highland Park, on Sun., May 17. One hundred puppets were created for this performance, the first show in the theater’s history not created by Bob Baker himself. The legacy of Bob Baker continues despite his physical absence.
The storyline takes the au-
dience on a fantastical train ride through magical lands, where they will meet curious passengers who have whimsical adventures. The audience will meet Auntler the knitting moose and watch a musical band of cicadas jam in their mountain home.
If you need a fix of puppets now, “Hooray LA!” is performing at the theater through Sun., May 3. This show spotlights various areas of the City of Angels, from Chinatown to Venice Beach.
Visit bobbakermarionettetheater.com for tickets and information about a multitude of other events for kids and adults alike.
NEWLY CREATED MARIONETTE and scenery for the first new show in decades.
Photos by Bob Baker Marionette Theater
A LIVE BAGPIPER kept the crowds entertained.
STRAIGHT FROM IRELAND, lass Eimear Callaghan and Jack Lancaster raise a glass. Sláinte!
Word Café by Mara Fisher
A PUPPET PARADE entertains the audience at Bob Baker Day 2025.
An Open Message to the Larchmont & Hancock Park Community
Since 1975, Coldwell Banker Realty has had the privilege of serving Larchmont and the greater Hancock Park community from a place we proudly called home. For nearly five decades, our office was not simply a location on a map, but a familiar presence — a place where neighbors stopped in, conversations began, and relationships were built over time.
As communities evolve, so too must the way businesses operate. With that in mind, we are sharing that our office located at 251 N Larchmont Blvd will be closing. We understand this may feel like the end of an era, and we acknowledge the sense of loss that can accompany the closing of a place that has long been part of the local landscape.
While our physical footprint is changing, our service is not. Our agents will now be serving Larchmont and the greater Hancock Park community from our new office located at 444 N Larchmont Blvd, Ste 100.
What has not changed — and will not change — is our connection to this community.
Coldwell Banker Realty remains deeply invested in Larchmont and Hancock Park through the agents who live here, raise families here, volunteer here, and continue to serve this market every day. While our presence is transitioning to a new space, it will continue to be defined by people — trusted professionals whose knowledge of these streets, homes, and histories cannot be replicated.
Real estate is ultimately about stewardship. It is about guiding people through meaningful moments and honoring the character of the neighborhoods we serve. Our agents will continue to do just that, with the same care, discretion, and local expertise that this community has come to expect.
We are grateful for the trust placed in us over the past fifty years, and we remain committed to earning that trust in the years ahead. Larchmont and Hancock Park have shaped who we are as a company, and it is our sincere hope that we continue to be worthy of this community’s confidence — today and well into the future.
