The Academy Awards will be handed out on Sun., March 2, and there have been a lot of ups and downs and controversies surrounding the various nominees. Everyone seems to have an opinion on who, or what film, should win. In some respects, it is a bit absurd to give out awards for art, being that it is very subjective and in the eye of the beholder. Be that as it may, I will go over the bigger nominees, who I think should win, and who will probably win. The Academy doesn’t always see eye to eye with what the general public likes. Let’s face it: There really aren’t any losers at this level.
Third
By the Hutcheson family
By Jessica Meaney
As visitors to Larchmont Village know, well-maintained public spaces matter to the health and well-being of our community. But too many Los Angeles neighborhoods lack them. Instead, decades of neglect and disjointed planning have left much of the city struggling with the basics: safe sidewalks, funcSee Fixed streets, P 16 n Infrastructure matters
Summer Camps & Programs
Read our annual list of spring and summer camp offerings, activities and school programs in the April issue of the Larchmont Chronicle. Advertising deadline is Mon., March 10. For more information on this, or general advertising questions, contact 323462-2241, ext. 13, or email wyatt@larchmontchronicle.com.
It is with great pride and excitement that we have taken the reins of a cherished institution of our neighborhood, the Larchmont Chronicle Recently, a bicoastal friend said to us, “I love when I get back to Los Angeles and I see the Chronicle in my mail; it makes me feel like I’m home.” At the time, the person didn’t know we were in the process of acquiring the paper, but it certainly brought a smile to our faces. Walking into the office and seeing bound copies of the printed paper dating back 63
By Nona Sue Friedman
The sweet sight of Girl Scouts selling cookies is back. As of Feb. 7, the annual tradition of troops “boothing,” which is Girl Scout-speak for selling cookies as a troop at various locations, has started. Troop 02902, which is primarily girls from the Center for Early Education, wasn’t missing a day. They snagged a spot on Larchmont Boulevard that very first day. Nora of Hancock Park says, “Selling cookies is one of my favorite
years was awe-inspiring and a little bit daunting. It is with great care and responsibility that we take on this role.
After Jane Gilman and Dawne Goodwin started the paper in 1963, the O’Connell family continued neighborhood ownership for the last 10 years under the care and management of Editor in Chief John Welborne.
Our family now can continue the legacy, and for that we will forever be grateful. We will be eternally thankful to the O’Connell Family for affording us the opportunity to maintain and expand
By Nona Sue Friedman
A new neighborhood association has formed in the area, Larchmont United Neighborhood Association (LUNA). The group held an open house on Feb. 2 in the parking lot of Hancock Homes at the corner of Larchmont Boulevard and Rosewood Avenue. Anyone from the area was welcome and the lot was
the journey that Jane and Dawne started as owners of the Larchmont Chronicle
Since we moved to this neighborhood 22 years ago, we have seen a lot of changes — stores and restaurants come and go, houses and storefronts get renovated. The one constant has been the Larchmont Chronicle This paper is all of ours — our community, our schools, our places of worship. Our part of Los Angeles is truly, both literally and figuratively, in the heart of the city. Films are made, new restaurants MARCH
FOUNDING MEMBERS AND OFFICERS at the first LUNA event. From left, back row: Chris Shanley, Auriell Spiegel, Dave Cavalier, John Holloway and Sam Uretsky. Front row: Sarita Singh, Annie O’Rourke, Georgea Fenady, Clelia El Adl Clemens (seated), Todd Clemens, Dennis Boyle, Natalie Irby, Maggie Peña and Keith Johnson.
Troop 02902
Larchmont Boulevard. From left to right are troop members Hanna Lou, Sophie, Iris and Nora.
Moving on, not away
By John Welborne
Last year was my 10th year of being steward of the Larchmont Chronicle, and last month’s February issue was my last one in that role.
I am fortunate to have known both founders of the paper, Jane Gilman and the late Dawne Goodwin. I worked with them often on neighborhood matters for nearly 40 years before I succeeded Jane as publisher and editor in 2015.
As Jane wrote in her final editorial in 2015, “When Dawne Goodwin, my former partner, and I began enlisting business people to advertise in 1963, we didn’t realize how lucky we were for selecting these neighborhoods. Residents wanted and appreciated their very own newspaper. We expanded from a distribution of 10,000 in the first few years to 21,000 families, a readership we guesstimate at 75,000.”
And this paper has been appreciated greatly ever since, including during my 10-year tenure as publisher and editor. Since taking over management in 2015, I have had the honor of working with the talented, knowledgeable, kind and truly amazing Larchmont Chronicle columnists and staff (nearly half of the staff members during my tenure also having worked with Jane and Dawne for one to two decades). Together, we at the paper have endeavored to serve our advertisers and readers while keeping this extraordinary local newspaper going during a tough time for journalism.
Because of our advertisers and readers, we have succeeded.
The local residents who made possible the 2015 acquisition of the Larchmont Chronicle from the Gilman family, and who
(Please turn to Page 12)
325 N. Larchmont Boulevard, #158 Los Angeles, California 90004 windsorsquare.org
157 N. Larchmont Boulevard
“Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.” — Lewis Grizzard
Save The Date: WSA Public Safety Town Hall. Join the WSA at the Wilshire Ebell on Wednesday April 23rd at 7pm to meet LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell as well as Windsor Square’s Senior Lead Officers for an open discussion on public safety in the city and in our neighborhood.
o o o
Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society
Annual Tea: This year’s WSHPHS tea will be held on March 9th at 1pm in the Royce Room of the historic Langham Huntington Hotel. Tickets can be purchased at windsorsquarehancockpark.com.
o o o
Larchmont Central Median: The WSA is currently vetting a number of landscape companies to begin a new contract for the care and maintenance of the Larchmont Median following difficulties with a previous contractor. We hope to have the Median back to its beautiful self in time for Summer!
o o o
“ARE YOU PREPARED?” The WSA’s one page sheet on preparing yourself, family and A Guide to Neighborhood Disaster Preparedness is now available online. Download your copy at windsorsquare.org.
o o o
Public Safety: The WSA encourages continued vigilance and robust home security. The WSA will resume outreach with regards to the possible introduction of License Plate Reading Cameras on participating streets. The WSA is contributing $1000 to the first block which moves forward with camera installation.
o o o
WE NEED BLOCK CAPTAINS! Be the leader of your block and the point person for all that’s going on in the neighborhood. The WSA has numerous block captain positions open. It’s a great opportunity to engage with neighbors and community leaders. Send an e-mail to: 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.
Fri., Feb. 28 — First night of Ramadan.
Sun., March 9 — Daylight saving time begins.
Tues., March 11 — Mid City West Neighborhood Council board meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Pan Pacific Park, 7600 Beverly Blvd., midcitywest. org.
Wed., March 12 — Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council board meeting via Zoom at 6:30 p.m., greaterwilshire.org.
Fri., March 14 — Pi Day. Mon., March 17 — St. Patrick’s Day.
Thurs., March 20 — First day of spring.
Thurs., March 27 — Deliv-
ery of the April issue of the Larchmont Chronicle. Mon., March 31 — César Chávez Day.
Letters to the Editor
Hyperlocal journalism
The Chronicle is an important resource. There’s nothing that beats truly responsible and hyperlocal journalism. My husband and I have been in Park La Brea since 1991 and are grateful to find your paper in our mailroom. I spent
Larchmont Chronicle
CORRECTION Calendar
nearly all my professional life as a visual journalist for TV, so this is especially important to me. Our thanks to you all. Nancy LeMay Park La Brea
Chateau is first home
For the first three months of my life, I lived with my parents at Chateau Laurier. [“Chateau Laurier evokes Los Angeles of an earlier era,” Aug. 2012.]
I only discovered the whereabouts of the gorgeous apartment building [at the northwest corner of Fifth Street and Wilton Place] while
Write us at letters@larchmontchronicle.com. Include your name, contact information and where you live. We reserve the right to edit for space and grammar.
‘What are your plans for St. Patrick’s Day?’
That’s the question our inquiring photographer asked locals.
“Corned
TV City, since 1952
Television City, the major development project approved for Beverly Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue, opened as CBS Television City studios in 1952, not 1972 as reported in the Feb. 2025 issue, “Television City at CBS site gets green light.”
“In the morning, after I drop the kids off at school, I stop at Hennessey’s in the South Bay for an Irish Coffee. [After work at Larchmont Village Wine, Spirits & Cheese] I go to Tom Bergin’s [and] hook up with some friends there.” Sergio Boccato Owner of said shop
beef and cabbage.”
Alex Chavez Pico Union
“I’m an Orthodox Jew so I don’t celebrate it, but I wish a happy St. Patrick’s Day to all who do!’”
Sara Newman Hancock Park
instagram @ brigh2terabithia by Brighid Burnes
Unbreakable L.A. spirit shined at aid benefits; NGA kick off
It was a concert we wished didn’t have to happen, but we were grateful that it did.
On Jan. 7, wildfires ripped through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods, destroying 16,000 homes and structures and upending countless lives. The music community, many of whom were directly impacted themselves, immediately stepped up, and two weeks later, on Jan. 30, some of the top names in the music world performed one of the greatest live music events in history. Billed as “an evening of music and solidarity,” the FireAid Benefit Concert, in connection with the Annenberg Foundation, was held simultaneously between Inglewood’s Kia Forum and the Intuit Dome, a mile down the road. All proceeds raised would go to short- and
long-term efforts and initiatives to prevent future fire disasters in Southern California and would be livestreamed around the world on multiple platforms. We were lucky enough to snag nosebleed seats at the Forum. Concertgoers were given a 6 p.m. start time, though it began later, so there was plenty of opportunity to wander the perimeter of the venue, purchasing concert swag (all proceeds going to the benefit), eating and drinking and chatting with other Angelenos (Windsor Square residents Stephen and Susan Matloff were spotted in the mix) there to support the community. Then, at 7 p.m. on the dot, the Kia Forum came alive. Green Day kicked off the event with “Last Night
on Earth,” joined by Billie Eilish in a surprise appearance before heading over to her scheduled performance at the Intuit Dome. Comedian Billy Crystal, whose family lost their home of 46 years in Pacific Palisades, greeted the audience and asked viewers to donate to help recovery efforts. From that point on, it was a who’s who of surprise guests and songs from the heart, many focusing on
New chapter
(Continued from Page 1) are premiered and people still come here to chase dreams. Our neighborhood is multicultural, vibrant and open. And the Larchmont Chronicle will continue to cover all of those stories ... in print.
You will notice some fun and exciting enhancements and a more active social media presence covering the happenings
California. Alanis Morrissette, in her sparkly “I Heart L.A.” T-shirt, reminded everyone why she is still a rock ‘n’ roll goddess. Anderson .Paak thrilled the audience with not one but two surprise guests, Sheila E. and Dr. Dre. Other Forum singers included Joni Mitchell, Dawes (two band members lost their homes and recording studio in the Eaton Fire), Stephen Stills,
(Please turn to Page 4)
around the Boulevard — if you haven’t already, go to the link on the front page to start following. Look at larchmontchronicle.com for a redesigned website with more active and comprehensive coverage in between print editions.
We are interested in YOUR stories. If there is something happening in your world that is important to you, let us know. Don’t be surprised if you are asked to be inter-
viewed for our upcoming Larchmont Talks podcast. We hope to live up to our motto, “A local paper for global lives.” In closing, thank you to our advertisers, who keep this paper free. Thank you to our readers, who patronize those same advertisers. And finally, thank you to our wonderful neighborhood, with all of its history, characters, and happenings. We will do our best to do you justice.
KIA FORUM was packed for the benefit concert.
Around the Town with Sondi Toll Sepenuk MIRACLE
Around the Town
(Continued from Page 3)
Mike Campbell, Graham Nash, Pink, John Mayer, John Fogerty, The Black Crowes, No Doubt, Stevie Nicks and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The biggest surprise of the night was the shock reunion of surviving Nirvana bandmates Dave Grohl, Pat Smear and Krist Novoselic, who played four Nirvana songs fronted by female lead vocalists St. Vincent, Kim Gordon, Joan Jett and Grohl’s 18-yearold daughter, Violet, who sang “All Apologies.” The crowd, a bit confused at first, went nuts once they realized what was happening.
oasis in the city” Thank You for supporting our Larchmont businesses!
“An
Over at the Intuit Dome, Katy Perry, Rod Stewart, Earth, Wind and Fire, Gracie Abrams, Tate McRae, Jelly Roll (joined by Travis Barker), Lil Baby, Olivia Rodrigo, Sting, Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder and Lady Gaga provided the icing on the cake. Whew! What a lineup! It was truly a night to remember, showing the unbreakable spirit and resilience of Los Angeles, the creative community and the people who call this ocean-adjacent desert community home. The event, produced by the Azoff family, Live Nation and the LA Clippers, raised over $100 million. If you would like to donate, go to fireaidla.org.
• • •
the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation. In all, 93 percent of every dollar donated went to the Foundation.
Representing businesses from 1st Street to Melrose
Representing businesses from 1st Street to Melrose
To reach LBA members, go to www.LARCHMONT.com
To reach LBA members, go to www.LARCHMONT.com
Neighbors Karen Chou, Jenny Foley, Gary Gilbert, Lizzie Schwartz and the Los Angeles Tennis Club hosted a fundraiser to support
The Beauty of Experience
Larchmont 's own Rebecca Fitzgerald MD, a board-certified derma tologic surgeon, brings extensive experience and up-to-the-minute expertise to the convenience of your own neigh borhood
As a community passionate about tennis and pickleball, the hosts showed their support for those affected by the recent wildfires, specifically our firefighters. Chou said, “[we]…recognize the devastation and trauma many have experienced, and believe that rebuilding starts with coming together to help—both financially and emotionally. The funds raised will go toward providing necessary equipment to better prepare the fire department for future challenges by supporting the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation.”
NGA postponed its first meeting of the year due to the wildfires, so the mem-
bers waited until Feb. 6 to reconvene and discuss the year ahead. Members were excited to learn that the fundraiser this year would be a backyard hoe-down on May 17. Ideas were thrown out to include a square dance caller, silent auction and paddle raise. All of NGA’s nonprofit recipients enthusiastically reupped with the organization, including Alexandria House, Assistance League of Los Angeles, Aviva, Good Shepherd, Imagine LA, Los Angeles House of Ruth and Sunnyside 5. The attendees then moved on to lunch, enjoying a light Moroccan feast and homebaked double chocolate and chocolate chip cookies. Keep your eyes and ears open for further details about the upcoming hoedown. And now you’re in the Larchmont know!
LATC PLAYERS Sean Harrington and Andrei Duman.
ATTENDEES Lizzie Schwartz, Karen Chou and Jenny Foley.
NGA MEMBERS meet to discuss the year ahead.
NAVARRA
Breathing in the aftermath: Enduring effects of wildfire smoke
It has been approximately two months since fires swept across the greater Los Angeles area, causing devastating loss and persistent disorientation. As we grapple with the consequences of the fires and navigate our way forward, it is more important than ever to attend to the well-being of ourselves, our loved ones and our greater community.
This month’s piece includes an interview with Dr. Sari Eitches, an internal medicine physician in Los Angeles with an integrative approach to the treatment and prevention of chronic illness. She is board certified by both the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine. In February, I had the chance to ask her a bit about the enduring health effects of the L.A. fires:
In addition to respiratory issues, have you observed any increases in cardiovascular conditions or mental health problems linked to the wildfire smoke?
Yes, exposure to wildfire smoke doesn’t just affect the lungs — it can also strain the heart, increasing the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Beyond the physical effects, many people experience heightened anxiety and stress. Those who have lost their homes, been displaced, or had to evacuate can also experience Acute Stress Disorder, which has similar symptoms to PTSD, such as hypervigilance, trouble with sleep and
Health & Wellness
By Priscilla Duggan
nightmares or flashbacks.
What should L.A. residents know about the potential lingering health effects of wildfire smoke from the past few months or even years?
Now that the literal and proverbial dust has settled and we have had a few cleansing rainy days, we can generally go back to enjoying the outdoors safely. There will always be baseline air pollution in Los Angeles, so pay attention to the local and surrounding Air Quality Index when deciding to exercise outdoors, especially for vulnerable groups. Trust your senses. If you see ash or smell smoke, it is not a good time to exercise outdoors. Ash and toxins settle into the environment and can get kicked back up into the air over time. Indoor air quality can also be affected for weeks or months, so continuing to use air purifiers and being mindful of exposure is important. In the burn areas and their nearby surroundings, sediment and Volatile Organic Compounds can settle. The monitoring that followed the 2018 Camp Fire showed that these toxins can take around six months to clear from the immediate water supply.
For individuals concerned about the long-term effects of smoke exposure, what tests or screenings would you recommend to monitor
their health over time?
Regular check-ups with your doctor can help monitor for any changes, especially if you have a history of respiratory or heart conditions. Standard lab tests usually include screening for blood, kidney and liver health as well as metabolic and cardiac risk. I am also screening my patients who have been affected for additional inflammatory markers and heavy metal levels. For those with lingering respiratory symptoms, a simple lung function test (spirometry) can be helpful, and some patients might benefit from lung imaging, such as a chest X-ray.
What role does local government and community action play in mitigating the health impacts of poor air quality?
Local government plays a big role in keeping air quality at the forefront — whether through monitoring, public health education or policy changes that reduce emissions. On a community level, we can help by advocating for cleaner air initiatives, supporting emergency preparedness plans and looking out for our more vulnerable neighbors. The government also provides some of our best methods for air quality monitoring such as airnow.gov.
Looking ahead to wildfire seasons in California, what measures can individuals, healthcare providers and communities take to better prepare for and respond to
the health challenges posed by air pollution?
Preparation is key. A high quality indoor air purifier is an excellent investment. I recommend ones with both a HEPA filter (for particulate matter) and a carbon filter (for gases). I have one in each bedroom at home, one in the common area and one in my office. We Angelenos spend a lot of time in our cars and our roads are a major source of baseline air pollution, so don’t forget to check your car’s air filter as well. Clean or change it when needed. Keep N95 or P100 masks handy just in case, and stay informed about air quality. Healthcare providers can guide patients on protective measures and communities can work on emergency response plans to ensure that everyone, especially vulnerable groups, has access to clean air and healthcare when they need it.
What do you foresee in terms of healthcare needs for the Los Angeles area as the region continues to face the effects of climate change and increased wildfire activity?
We’ll likely see more people needing long-term respirato-
ry care, cardiovascular monitoring and mental health support due to ongoing wildfire exposure. Public health efforts will need to focus on prevention, early intervention and making sure our communities are equipped to handle future challenges.
An ending note from Dr. Eitches: There are so many toxins and pollutants in our urban environment that it is easy to feel overwhelmed and fearful. I try to emphasize to my patients practical advice to minimize our toxic exposures, while also accepting the reality that Los Angeles, with all its charm, is a sprawling metropolis with inherently worse than average air pollution. This is a huge public health issue that should be mitigated on the community and public health level. On an individual level, we are empowered to make many decisions every day to optimize our health and resilience. In addition to the air concerns discussed, we can limit further toxins at home by emphasizing whole, unprocessed foods in our diets, exercising regularly, managing sleep and stress, and filtering our drinking water.
SMOKE THAT STICKS. Drawing by Priscilla Duggan
N A T I 0 N DAY A
I
f(fkN
TO OUR DOCTORS
PIH Health extends its deepest gratitude to our outstanding physicians. Every day, these dedicated professionals provide our patients with expert, consistent care. Thank you, doctors, for your dedication to keeping our communities healthy!
PIH Health Downey Hospital
PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital
PIH Health Whittier Hospital
PIH Health Physicians
Personal safety series: An overall look at Los Angeles now
This is the first in a series on safety. In the coming months we will address protecting ourselves from crime in the physical world and cybercrime in the digital world, as well as personal health safety and transportation safety. We will start with a quick review of the overall situation in Los Angeles and then move in later pieces into small, practical and useful things we can do to protect ourselves.
Los Angeles has always been an innovative place. Film, aviation, freeways and using the word “like” as a discourse marker all evolved here to become worldwide standards. The city and county were among the earliest to create paramedic services; to use helicopters for civil rescue, firefighting and law enforcement; and to develop a SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team. We live just a few miles east physically of where the digital world started (the internet’s birthplace is UCLA’s Boelter Hall, Room 3420).
Some sociologist in the future will likely have a lot of fun figuring out the interplay between the internet and our sense of safety, but I think we would all agree that WhatsApp, Nextdoor, Watch Duty, ShakeAlert, iMessage and Facebook regularly deliver exciting news of disaster
Personal Safety
By Below the Radar
and mayhem, sometimes on a nightly basis. Several times in the last week I received messages of burglars on the prowl, helicopters in the sky and neighbors on full alert.
In 2024 there were 1,603,258 LAPD service calls, or about one call every 20 seconds. In addition, there were 16,622 traffic collisions reported as the city saw more traffic fatalities (302) than homicides (268). 170 Pedestrians were killed last year and severe injuries in car crashes rose by nearly 60 percent since 2015. About half of these were hit-and-runs. Adding to the immediacy, there is a huge amount of video coming from body-worn cameras, doorbell cameras, in-car video cameras, drones, license plate readers, security cameras, and, of course, mobile phones. We get alerted to things in real time and then get to share and watch the recap on YouTube and Instagram.
In the digital world the numbers get astronomic. According to Cisco, a network equipment provider, in 2024 there were 246 million attempts to steal information and 175 million Trojan attacks designed to hi-
Richard T. Chung, DDS
Cosmetic, Implant & General Dentistry
Member of the American & California Dental Associations. USC Graduate.
Most insurances accepted. Appointments recommended. New patients and emergencies welcome!
321
Los Angeles 90004
jack computers. There were 154 million ransom attacks, and 46 million devices were remotely controlled. It wasn’t long ago that they would make an entire movie about a single ransom attack, but in the time I wrote this paragraph there were five happening per second. It can be truthfully stated that virtually every major company or institution has had personal data on their customers and employees lost to the “darknet.” That data is, of course, about us.
In contrast to data offered by various media and notifications, there has actually been a 60 percent drop in property crimes and 30-40 percent drop in violent crimes across the country since 1990. Traffic fatalities are down historically. These trends have been almost linear over the years except for immediately after the pandemic when there was a period of increased rates. The latest data from LAPD show a 25-30 percent decrease in violent and property crime in the 28-day period of Dec. 29, 2024, to Jan. 25, 2025, compared to the same period each of the last two years. See LAPD COMPSTAT at tinyurl.com/6tm88mvs.
We can look at crime data because LAPD publishes a lot of it. The Crime Data map (above right) shows how the area around us measures in terms of population density (gray, data from 2020) and crime counts (blue, aggregating all of the reported crimes in 2024). The statistics, however, do not make us feel better. I have heard time and again that crime rates are up, personal safety is down and that the world is generally less safe.
Some of this may be that our city’s public safety agencies are under stress. LAPD’s staffing has continued to go
down and is now well below the oft stated goal of having 10,000 uniformed officers; as of last week there are only 8,784 on the payroll.
Similarly, we can see in the LAFD Response Times graph above that response times provided by LAFD have been steadily increasing in the last decade. The graph shows how quickly they respond to calls for emergency medicine (or-
ange), general (blue), and structure fires (green).
The core issue is, of course, that survival rates improve with every minute saved. Studies across multiple countries have shown that 50% more people survive a heart attack if they’re reached within eight minutes (480 seconds), right where LAFD response times have reached.
(Please turn to Page 10)
CRIME DATA population density is grey and crime counts blue.
LAFD Response Times 2016-2024 as measured in seconds.
Domestic violence suspect arrested, phone stolen in meet up POLICE BEAT
OLYMPIC DIVISION
BURGLARIES: A burglar entered a multiunit building on the 300 block of Westminster Avenue by smashing the sliding glass door, taking a purse, money and a firearm on Feb. 1 at 5 p.m.
A victim’s bedroom dresser was ransacked when a burglar entered the multiunit dwelling on the 5000 block of Rosewood Avenue. The burglar gained access through a bedroom window on Feb. 7 at 8 a.m.
A suspect forced entry into a home through the rear screen door on the 800 block of South Bronson Avenue. The
burglar took property and fled on Feb. 8 at 7:45 p.m.
ROBBERY: A victim met up with the suspect they met via a phone app on Feb. 7 at 1 a.m. The suspect refused to return the victim’s phone on the 900 block of South Gramercy Place.
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT:
During a domestic violence argument, a suspect strangled and scratched a victim on Feb. 1 at 11 p.m. on the 300 block of South Manhattan Place. The suspect was arrested.
GRAND THEFT AUTO: A car was stolen from a parking lot on Feb. 1 at 1 a.m. from
OLYMPIC DIVISION
Furnished by Senior Lead Officer Daniel Chavez
213-793-0709
36304@lapd.online
Instagram: @olympic_slo1
the 800 block of South Gramercy Drive.
On. Feb. 8 at noon, a car was stolen from the street on the 500 block of North Van Ness Avenue.
WILSHIRE DIVISION
BURGLARIES: Three sus-
WILSHIRE DIVISION
Furnished by Senior Lead Officer
Tyler Shuck
213-712-3715
40740@lapd.online
Twitter: @lapdwilshire
pects broke the rear window of a home on the 400 block of North McCadden Avenue on Feb. 4. They took property and fled.
On the same day, three suspects entered a home on the 400 block of North Citrus Avenue,
Police officers ride for those fallen: Support their tour
By Nona Sue Friedman
Police officers have to stay in shape so they can go headfirst into dangerous situations. Many do intense exercise and also train for races in their spare time. One such race is the Police Unity Tour (PUT), where 2,600 officers from across the country congregate. The race takes place in May, starts in New Jersey and finishes in Washington, D.C.
The PUT is a three-day, individual bike race to raise money and awareness for fallen officers nationwide. This year, Olympic Community Police Station (LAPD) will be represented with seven officers, including Larchmont’s Senior Lead Officer (SLO) Danny Chavez. In addition to acknowledging fallen officers, riders raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in
Washington, D.C. The race’s motto is “We ride for those who died.”
This year LAPD lost a very prominent and well-respected SLO from the Hollywood Community Police Station, Paul Jordan. Jordan, 58, was an LAPD officer for 29 years and had worked at the Hollywood station for the last 22 years. He was a participant in this race numerous times. He died on Jan. 22 when he lost
consciousness while driving home from the Palisades Fire. He sustained fatal injuries when his car veered off the road.
SLO Chavez is one of many who are riding to honor Jordan. If you see Chavez in person, you may notice a black and blue band over his badge, indicating the loss of an officer. Referred to as a “mourning band,” it symbol(Please turn to Page 12)
also breaking a rear window with a tool and taking property.
Continuing on the same day, suspects broke the rear window to gain access to a house and take property on the 100 block of South Lucerne Avenue.
A few days later, on Feb. 7, a burglar used the same technique and broke the rear window with a tool, entered and took property from a home on the 100 block of South Citrus Avenue.
GRAND THEFT AUTO: A vehicle was stolen from the corner of Rosewood Avenue and Larchmont Boulevard on Feb. 4.
AFTER FINISHING THE RIDE, Officer Danny Chavez shows his enthusiasm.
March Events Calendar
MARDI GRAS celebration will be at The Original Farmers Market through Sun., March 2, and Fat Tuesday, March 4. Pets will show their stuff in the Mutti Gras Pet Parade and Costume Contest, Gumbo Pot will serve
hot beignets and live music will get visitors in the party mood. Visit farmersmarketla. com for a full schedule.
1 6 7
PST-ART OPEN HOUSE, a free day-to-night exploration of art and science, takes place at The Ebell of Los Angeles, 743 S. Lucerne Blvd., from 1 to 11 p.m. Book fair, salon-style conversations and performances will be featured at this Getty initiative. RSVP at pst.art/en/ events/pst-art-open-house.
MAHLER’S FIFTH WITH DUDAMEL is part of the Mahler Grooves Festival at Walt Disney Con-
cert Hall at 8 p.m. Additional dates are Fri., March 7, and Sat., March 8 at 8 p.m. and Sun., March 9, at 2 p.m. Visit laphil.org.
FIRST FRIDAYS returns to the Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., with Amplified, from 5 to 10 p.m. This first in the series, called Healing Sounds, explores the science behind sound baths and music therapy for relaxation and meditation. Live music, DJs, art installations and discussion are featured. Free for members; $25 for non-members. Visit nhmlac. org.
MASTERS OF THE AMERICAN WEST: Autry Museum annual exhibition and fundraiser exhibits paintings and sculptures exploring Romanticism in contemporary Western art. View at the Autry in person now. Online bidding has begun and closes Fri., March 7, at 2 p.m. At that time the bidding will switch to the live auction taking place on March 8 at 6 p.m. Reservations are required for auction attendance. For information to attend in person, call 323495-4263.
cent Dr., Beverly Hills, Visit thewallis.org.
13 15 16
HERE THERE ARE BLUEBERRIES, a play based on real events, tells the story behind historical Nazi-era photographs. The Wallis / Tectonic Theater Project is through March 30 at the Bram Goldsmith Theater, at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 450 N. Cres-
Personal Safety
(Continued from Page 8)
Another dimension is that survival rates double if CPR is initiated within that time.
While there are no available statistics yet, it can be surmised that the continuing efforts around the Palisades Fire have consumed large amounts of LAPD and LAFD resources. They have been fighting fires, protecting people and property, staffing command posts, maintaining perimeters and so much more.
As we can see, there is some truth to our fears and sense of danger. While crimes and incidents are down, the available resources are stretched.
This said, there are also many things that we personally can do to pick up the slack.
In following pieces, I will be covering a number of steps that we can take to protect our homes, ourselves and our families against common incidents. I will not be discussing hiring security guards or buying guns. As in healthcare, there are many small and inexpensive ways to significantly improve our safety stance in the physical and digital worlds. Stay tuned.
Below the Radar is the nom de plume of a local resident.
SOUND AND SCIENCE: FROM SIGNAL TO NOISE, a live performance in partnership with UCLA ArtSci Center, is at Nimoy Theater, 1262 Westwood Blvd., at 8 p.m. This curated showcase of sound art performances was created incollaboration with physicists, biologists, astrophysicists and botanists. Visit cap.ucla.edu/ucla-nimoy-theater.
SOCAL MUSEUM FREE-FOR-All features general entry to more than 30 museums from Long Beach to Santa Barbara. Local sites include the Academy Museum, Autry Museum of the American West, Craft Contemporary, La Brea Tar Pits and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Some sites require RSVPs. Visit socalmuseums.org.
(Please turn to Page 11)
skin deep
by Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald
Q: I’m tempted to try a light therapy mask. Are they better for anti-aging than office treatments?
A: Good news…this is not an either/or situation. Red light therapy systems for home use offer the best of both worlds by improving and prolonging those treatment results.
We recently began offering Omnilux Contour Face, the original FDA-cleared mask for a variety of features including providing more LED’s and covering more facial area than its competitors. Omnilux’s benefits are so far-reaching their tag line asks “what’s your skincare goal?” That’s because red light therapy can enhance about every treatment we offer by addressing hyperpigmentation and redness; decreasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and by stimulating your own collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production.
Omnilux mask is comfortable and easy to use at home. The recommended treatment protocol is three-five, 10-minute treatments per week for 4-6 weeks. In short, red light therapy improves the health and vitality of your skin cells which makes them function and look better.
The Omnilux Contour Face is available for purchase inoffice or by phone.
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.
MARDI GRAS celebration at The Original Farmers Market will include a pet parade, live music and Southern cuisine.
WORK BY John Moyers in the Autry exhibit “Masters of the American West.”
Academy Awards
(Continued from Page 1)
Best Picture: Emilia Pérez
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Nickel Boys
I’m Still Here
The Substance
Dune: Part Two
Wicked Anora
The Brutalist
Who should win: Anora — Tender yet harsh and real. Who will probably win: The Brutalist — Harsh and real, but long.
Best Actress Fernanda Torres — I’m Still Here
Demi Moore — The Substance
Karla Sofia Gascón — Emilia Pérez
Cynthia Erivo — Wicked
Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association
Serving the Larchmont community between Beverly and Melrose, Arden to Wilton Place
Hello, Fellow Larchmont Village residents!
When we decided to resume this column in the Chronicle, I don’t think any of us imagined how hectic things would get in our little neighborhood. On our eastern border, we’re dealing with issues surrounding prostitution traffic on Western Avenue, (many thanks to LAPD and particularly SLO Chavez for the task force which is dealing with this every day.)
On Larchmont Blvd two properties (507 N and 531 N) have submitted ED1 proposals to the city for new buildings which are, frankly, horrendous and a blight on our neighborhood. As developers stack state and city benefits to maximize their profits and offload important features on the surrounding community, neighbors are understandably outraged. The LVNA has been front and center in dealing with these developments from Day 1, meeting and negotiating with developers as part of an ad hoc committee, supporting neighborhood activists, hiring a prominent land use law firm to represent our interests and working with our neighboring associations to bring every lever to bear, as we do on every development in the neighborhood.
The objective and purpose of the LVNA has, since 1987, been the preservation and enhancement of our neighborhood, bounded by the south side of Melrose Avenue, the north side of Beverly Blvd, the entirety of Arden Blvd and the west side of Wilton Place. We have always tried to operate by consensus, no matter the differences of opinion as we’re all part of a neighborhood we love. Also, for many years we have supported the establishment of neighborhood specific 501c3 charities as they can intensely focus on specific issues and fundraise in a way we cannot as a nonprofit corporation.
There is a great opportunity to be a leader on issues you care about in our neighborhood. The LVNA operates on a decentralized committee/specialist system whereby residents with a passion for a subject or issue can become experts helping not just themselves but the neighborhood at large. Additionally, our board has become expert in most of the subjects any resident could come up against and is ready, willing and able to be a resource and provide resources to help…
LAPD – We are a neighborhood which is served by two different LAPD divisions – Olympic Division (from Gower to Wilton) and Wilshire Division (from Arden - Gower). If you see a crime happening, call 911. You can report dumping and many other types of illegal activity via the MY311 app. If you need advice or a helping hand reach out to the Senior Lead Officers at your respective division -Senior Lead Officer Tyler Shuck (Wilshire Division) ((213)712-3715) or Officer Daniel Chavez (Olympic Division) (213-793-0787).
Each LAPD division also has Community Police Advisory Boards (C-PAB),
WE NEED YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT. Join the neighborhood association, sign-up for our email list, write to city officials and turn up for city meetings and hearings when asked. If it interests you, participate in our Board. Also, please install the MY311 app, it’s the most effective way to report many issues to the city.
We’re not going anywhere.
You can join or reach out to the Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association at 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 email me directly at lvgwnc@gmail.com. 2025 Membership Dues Due Now
Mikey Madison — Anora
Who should win: Demi Moore — Courageous and open. Who will probably win: Fernanda Torres — Good performance that doesn’t stand out.
Best Actor
Ralph Fiennes — Conclave
Sebastian Stan — The Apprentice
Timothée Chalamet — A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo — Sing
Sing
Adrien Brody — The Brutalist
Who should win: Sebastian Stan — Nonjudgmental portrayal of a polarizing character.
Who will probably win: Adrien Brody — Seems like the same role I’ve seen him play.
Best Supporting Actress
Zoe Saldaña — Emilia Pérez
Felicity Jones — The Brutalist
Monica Barbaro — A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande — Wicked
Isabella Rossellini — Conclave
Who should win: Isabella Rossellini — Very well done in an all-star cast.
Who will probably win — Zoe Saldaña — She is better in Lioness.
Best Supporting Actor Guy Pearce — The Brutalist Yuriy Borisov — Anora Edward Norton — A Complete Unknown
Kieran Culkin — A Real Pain
Jeremy Strong — The Apprentice
Who should win: Yuriy Borisov — Touching portrayal of a fixer with tenderness.
Who will probably win: Kieran Culkin — Played himself again, just not rich.
Best Director Coralie Fargeat — The Substance James Mangold — A Com-
March events
(Continued from Page 10)
20
BEATNIK GIRL . World premiere, play of a young woman and beat poet on New York’s Lower East Side in 1957, at Theatre Forty, 241 S. Moreno Dr., in the Mary Levin Cutler Theatre, on the Beverly Hills High School campus
plete Unknown
Sean Baker — Anora Jacques Audiard — Emilia Pérez
Brady Corbet — The Brutalist Who should win: Sean Baker — Took a difficult subject and made it real and accessible. Who will probably win: Brady Corbet — Far too long and somewhat uninteresting.
through April 20. Visit theatre40.org.
21
ACCORDING TO RAY: Ray Charles’ Message to America” is MUSE / IQUE’S season opener at the Mark Taper Forum at the Music Center. It’s part of “Make Some Noise: Music and Stories of American Defiance and Hope.” “Visit muse-ique.com.
Donald Spuehler
September 28, 1934 - February 17, 2025
“Be grateful for this precious life and use it the best you can,” Donald wrote in a memoir, “Find as many ways to love as you can.”
Donald Spuehler died February 17, peacefully, surrounded by family, just the way he intended. He was 90. Donald was an active member of the Hancock Park community for 53 years, and could regularly be seen in Larchmont Village, whether getting his morning grande dark coffee at Starbucks or enjoying breakfast at Le Pain Quotidian. His kindness, sharp mind and jovial laugh will be missed by all.
Born on a farm near Elgin, Illinois, Donald was raised around his father’s art, and with an appreciation for the sounds from the record player, like Ode to Joy from the 9th symphony of Beethoven. Donald discovered a passion for cello, which he took to Harvard College, where his studies shifted from Science to Economics, ultimately leading to a Masters in Economics at Harvard. After two years of Army service in France, and a return to Harvard Law School, the budding lawyer found his way to O’Melveny and Myers in California, where he would enjoy a 30 year tenure, a cello still by his side.
A 1966 chamber music workshop at Humboldt State blossomed into a marriage to violinist Jane Romm, and life’s priorities shifted to what he described as “much music, much love and support” for 32 years, while raising their two children, Sean Jason and Tracy Ariana. In addition to music and
family, Donald’s spiritual quests were an important and meaningful part of his life, starting with est in 1973 followed by retreats at the Zen Center and a lifelong meditation practice. He also enjoyed his local book club and tennis at Los Angeles Tennis Club to round things out.
Following Jane’s death due to ovarian cancer, it was the magic of Esalen at the beginning of the millennium, that would bring Jill Roth into his life. Jill and Donald would marry and spend the next 25 years together with travel, experiences and a deep and abiding love. Together, they supported Habitat for Humanity, Planned Parenthood and the LA Food Bank, enjoyed rounds of golf at Whitsett, listened to music at Disney Hall, and shared a lifelong love of learning for 19 years as members of Plato Society of Los Angeles.
Philanthropy and work with The Hunger Project and other Nonprofits became a passion throughout Donald’s life, as was his dedicated work with the ACMP (Associated Chamber Music Players), which complemented his life of music.
Donald is survived by his wife, Jill Roth Spuehler, children Sean Spuehler and Tracy Dickerson, and four loving grandchildren, Jones (18), Vivian (18), Jane (16) and Eleanora (15).
Anyone who would like to donate in Donald’s memory may do so either to Planned Parenthood or LA Food Bank.
AN OSCAR WATCH party will be at the Academy Museum. (See story in Section 3, Page 18). Above, a guest at last year’s event.
Letters
(Continued from Page 2)
looking through the book the hospital gave my parents, filled with my vital statistics. That was about 2015. I was born in 1948.
Of course, I have no memory of living at Chateau Laurier. I do make a point of occasionally riding my bike
Moving on
(Continued from Page 2)
four miles from my home in the South Carthay neighborhood, past the building. David Wyman South Carthay [Ed. note: An article on the Chateau Laurier is in Sec. 2, Page 2.]
Importance of paper
I always value learning — about virtually anything
— and was fascinated to read Mara Fisher’s account of paper and its compelling backstory. [“A paper trail through the ages, from ostraka to pulp fiction,” Feb. 2025]. And again, the Chronicle is a real treasure, in this changing world, with print and local news, seemingly everywhere, taking an increasingly lesser role — to societies’ great disadvantage.
Fritz Kasten Woodside, Calif.
Readers’ comments
oversaw my tenure as publisher and editor, recently selected Hutcheson Publishing Group to be the paper’s next owner. Hedy and Andrew Hutcheson have lived in the Windsor Square neighborhood for decades. They have many friends who live in our wider, Greater Wilshire community, and they know and understand the community. Hedy and Andrew’s stepping up to be the next stewards of the Larchmont Chronicle is a terrific gesture, and I know we all will support them in the coming years.
I am not going anywhere, still living in Windsor Square, as has been the case for me for seven decades. You will still see me around, just as Larchmontians see Jane Gilman nearly everywhere! (I probably will not be able to keep up with Jane’s pace, however.)
“Thank you” to the Chronicle staff and the community for your stalwart support of our special local newspaper.
Thank you for ALL you do for us!
Laura Dutton Larchmont Village
Word Café by Mara Fisher in the February edition was fantastic.
Mary Kelly Windsor Square
Thanks for the wonderful Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles articles!
Carlotta Keely Hancock Park
Catherine Hennessy
Catherine Hennessy, 93, of Los Angeles, passed away February 11 from natural causes.
Catherine was born in Chicago, Illinois, to an IrishAmerican family during the Great Depression. Her father was the sales manager for a book publishing company, and her mother cared for Catherine and her two brothers.
The family moved to Los Angeles in 1944, moving to St. Paul parish on Buckingham Street, before settling in the Larchmont area of central Los Angeles in 1952. She graduated from Immaculate Heart High School in 1949, and earned a degree in English from Immaculate Heart College in 1953.
She connected with her community through regular visits to Chevalier’s bookstore, Lucy’s Mexican Restaurant, and Christ the King Roman Catholic Church, of which she had been a member since 1952. She volunteered at Christ the King for 10 years.
Catherine was devout not just in her religion, but to the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. She relished her visits to the univer-
Bogie’s
sity campus, where she loved visiting the Hesburgh Library and touring the campus.
A fighting Irish in her own right, Cathy was a strong-willed soul, and never hesitated to speak her mind.
Catherine was a longtime employee of a life and health insurance company, rising early and arriving punctually to the downtown office every day for 26 years. Her contributions to her employer were many, but her true passion was spent in volunteer service. Recognizing her countless hours and significant contributions, the Alzheimer’s Association presented Catherine with an award recognizing her 25 years as a volunteer.
Catherine was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers. She is survived by her nephew and other relatives and friends.
As Cathy makes her way to heaven as surely as the road leads there, her Irish eyes are smiling in the minds of those she leaves behind.
A memorial service was held on February 22, 2025, at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church, in Los Angeles. Adv.
Officers ride
(Continued from Page 9) izes respect and grief for the fallen officer. What’s involved
The race takes quite a bit of organizing. First the riders have to break down their bikes and bring them to a warehouse, where they are then shipped to New Jersey. Then 30 motorcycles — which are ridden by the escorts for the bike riders throughout the race — are shipped. Finally, the officers take a charter flight to New Jersey to assemble their bikes and start the ride.
The race starts in Florham Park, New Jersey, on Sat., May 10, and ends on Mon., May 12, at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. The route is about 250 miles, which amounts to about five hours of riding each day.
Each group takes its own route to D.C., but everyone waits for each other at the end.
According to Chavez, “For the
last four miles, the streets of D.C. are lined with families of fallen officers, retired officers and past riders cheering everyone on. It’s quite a site to see.” The race ends at the National Officers Memorial.
The next day, officers dress in their class A uniforms, which is their professional dress consisting of a shirt and tie, for a candlelight vigil at the memorial. There, the fallen officers’ names are read aloud, one by one, and unveiled, etched in stone, at the memorial.
How you can help
In order to ride, officers have to raise at least $2,300; $1,000 is donated to the National Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and $1,300 covers the cost of the race. Anything extra goes to the memorial.
“I appreciate any support,” says SLO Chavez.
If you would like to help Chavez reach his goal for the eighth year in a row, donate to his ride at tinyurl.com/4mb6pu85.
thehmsbounty.com
THE TEAM FOR OLYMPIC Division poses in front of RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. after completing the tour.
‘Sean! Mary! Over here!’ St. Patrick’s Day is 1,000 years strong
By Elaine Pershing
It’s soon time for corned beef, cabbage, green beer and the ohso-common shout throughout parades of “Michael!” St. Patrick’s Day is a U.S. holiday, but how did it start?
St. Patrick, born Maewyn Succat in Scotland to Roman parents around 385, was kidnapped at 16 by Northern Irish Celts and enslaved as
LUNA
(Continued from Page 1)
filled with over 100 people throughout the morning. Neighbors congregated to talk about concerns, meet in person and just enjoy the community under sunny skies. The event was abuzz with excitement and enthusiasm for the new group.
LUNA became a reality in January with Sam Uretsky as its president. Many founding members and board positions are filled by people who were active in their own micro neighborhood organizations, such as Lucerne Arden United, North Plymouth Coalition and various neighborhood watch groups, as well as the Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association (LVNA).
At the get-together, LUNA had sign-up sheets for various committees. According to Uretsky, by the end of the event, “The sign up sheets were full. There is a lot of enthusiasm for this new group; they are eager to build community.”
The LVNA is the original neighborhood association that has represented the area for decades. The two are presently coexisting associations for the same area.
Two associations?
The boundaries for both organizations are Melrose Avenue to the north, Beverly Boulevard to the south, Wilton Place to the east and Arden Boulevard to the west. Additionally, LUNA wants to be involved with Larchmont from Beverly to First Street.
The formation of LUNA came as a surprise to Charlie D’Atri, president of LVNA for the last 20 years. He said, “Uretsky is phenomenal, a wonderful organizer and was on the board [of the LVNA] until December of 2024.”
D’Atri continued, saying he’s disappointed with the way things went down. “I love the energy, but it’s never good for a neighborhood to have two organizations representing the same area.” He specified that it causes confusion when dealing with the council office, city departments and neighbors. D’Atri would like to work things out with LUNA.
Neighbor’s perspective Clelia El Adl Clemens, a
a shepherd. Although Succat’s father was a deacon, his spiritual path came about only during his six years of prayer while being held captive. He escaped, returned to Britain, studied his new faith and returned to Ireland around 432 to actively convert the druid-led pagan Irish to Christianity, establishing monasteries, churches and
GOWER NEIGHBOR Brianna Favazza signs up to participate in LUNA.
founding member of LUNA, moved to Lucerne Boulevard from France in 2013. In France, she knew all her neighbors and wanted the same here. She made it a point to meet them, create community and work to improve her neighborhood. Through her efforts, she met Uretsky.
Suzi Yoonessi, also of Lucerne, is very inspired by the new organization and all that they do for the neighborhood. “I’m very excited for this group, for its spirit and I believe in them as a team,” she said. She’s already become one of the many paying members. When asked about LVNA, Yoonessi replied, “LVNA hasn’t figured out how to activate [the community]. I just don’t know what they’ve done.”
Their differences
Uretsky claims during his four-and-half years on the board of LVNA there was never an election, they have very few members, and, in his opinion, there wasn’t an appropriate amount of money spent on the neighborhood.
He feels strongly that the area “needs an active and proactive neighborhood association. This area deserves better.” He feels LUNA is a better representation of the neighborhood.
In response to Uretsky’s claims, D’Atri says LVNA spent thousands of dollars on lawyers to oppose the initial plans for a building out of scale with the neighborhood at 507 N. Larchmont Blvd. D’Atri also claims the LVNA had elections during Uretsky’s tenure on the board and would have welcomed him becoming more involved.
schools throughout the country. It’s believed he died on March 17, 461.
The most famous legend about St. Patrick is of him standing on a hill and commanding the snakes of Ireland into the ocean. Question: Were there ever snakes in Ireland? There were in ancient Irish mythology…
Ireland has been celebrating their patron saint on March 17 for over 1,000 years. Throughout the country, there are events, entertainment, concerts, and parades. It’s a national holiday celebrated for five days.
In North America we have been celebrating this day of Irish culture for over 425 years. The first parade was held by a Spanish colony in what would today be St. Au-
gustine, Florida. The colony’s Irish vicar, Ricardo Artur, led the parade which included Spaniards, Africans, Native Americans, Portuguese, a French surgeon and a German fifer.
The Boston parade started in 1737, almost 50 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed. New York City followed in 1762, and Chicago in 1843, but it wasn’t until 1962 that Chicago started dyeing their river green. (Fun fact: the environmentally friendly dye is actually orange and turns green in the water.) As famous as these parades are, one of the top five largest parades is in Savannah, Georgia. It started in 1824 and this year will have 250 bands, families, societies, soldiers, public servants
and commercial floats. At the other end of the spectrum, Hot Springs, Arkansas’ bills itself as the shortest parade at 98 feet, but no less energetic. The U.S. has over 100 St. Patrick’s Day parades.
Corned beef and cabbage are not the traditional St. Patrick’s Day foods in Ireland. Poor Irish Americans popularized it in the U.S. because corned beef was affordable. They would boil it three times to get rid of the brine — the last time with cabbage. Around 1914, green beer was added to the meal. In Ireland, popular St. Patrick’s foods are beef stew, soda bread, colcannon (similar to mashed potatoes) and apple tarts, all washed down with Irish stout.
Enjoy your St. Patrick’s Day celebration!
Helga Kasimoff of famed piano store, 93
A familiar figure on Larchmont Boulevard, Helga Kasimoff died Jan. 3. She was 93. “She remained quite alert, cheerful and witty despite her declining health,” her son Kyril Kasimoff wrote in an email. She, as always, shared her love for her family and friends and continued her engagement with the music community. She often expressed graciousness for her long life — thankful for the arts, beauty, her many travels, her family and every person that crossed her path.”
Helga Kasimoff opened the Kasimoff-Blüthner Piano Co. showroom on Larchmont
Boulevard in 1976 with her husband, Bill.
Their pianos were favored by concert pianists and featured on recordings for Stevie Wonder, Henry Mancini and Barbra Streisand. Their customers included John Williams, the LA Philharmonic and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma dropped in to practice in the quiet, offthe-beaten-path Larchmont showroom.
“We get a lot of enjoyment when musicians play here,” Helga told us in an interview in 2019.
A Germany native, Helga met her future husband af-
ter immigrating to the U.S. in 1952. Bill was a clarinetist with the San Gabriel Symphony and a piano tuner when they first opened their business in Pasadena.
Helga discovered Larchmont was much closer to the studios and their clientele, and so the couple purchased the Larchmont lot. They had the 1921 Tudor-style house that stood there moved to the back and built the 2,500-squarefoot piano showroom at the front. Their three sons have all helped in the family business. Bill died in 1997. Helga is survived by sons Serge, Vanya and Kyril.
Kali crew opens elevated neighborhood seafood restaurant
By Desmond Garvey
“So this is what an elevated fish house looks like,” you might think as you approach the front door of Koast. We have a new seafood restaurant from the people behind Kali, the longstanding onestar Michelin restaurant on Melrose Avenue. All the while, your brain slowly comes to terms with the fact that there is indeed a glass pane over the burbling stream of water coursing over rocks that you need to cross in order to enter the restaurant. The hostess smiles and beckons at you as if to say, “It’s safe.” Despite your trepidation, maybe it’s best you keep your shoes on your feet and unroll your pants, which, by now, are hiked up to your belt line.
Chef Kevin Meehan’s Kali stood the test of the pandemic and has been a Larchmont staple since 2016. When I first caught wind that Meehan, Executive Chef Micheal Kerner, Sommelier Drew Langley and General Manager Jessica Tripp were opening a relaxed California seafood restaurant offering crispy scallop cakes, seasonal seafood chowder and potato chips with a sour cream and onion dip, I did not envision what I walked into. A low-lit dining room joins the surgically sterile kitchen, the low-slung wraparound seating and chairs resembling the ribs of a ship all dressed in indigo cushions. It’s as though Meehan can’t quite shake his addiction to the finer details. Despite the elevated environment, children doodle
on their menus with crayons. The neighborhood has noticed this new spot and they’re here for it.
For the vast majority of diners, the words “interesting’” or ‘“innovative” aren’t at the top of their minds. These days they simply want “good.” What people look for in good casual food in Los Angeles has changed in recent years. Many diners have grown tired of restaurants toting small plates that will pair perfectly with that new California natural pear sparkling wine. The novelty of the California restaurant with locally sourced produce and wines, while cool and noble, has worn off for many. Favor is shifting toward restaurants that ditch the intricate plating (which may get you some kudos from others in the industry, or simply those in the know) and instead focus on a consistency of pumping out fulfilling dishes.
This being said, Meehan balances his loyalty to twee-
zer food with the food that people want to eat.
Starters at Koast are broken down into three sections. The “raw” section is, well … raw. So you’ll find littleneck clams, Morro Bay oysters on the half shell, crudos and the like. The “lightly touched” section is all things cured. Finally, the “cooked” section is, as the name states, proteins, mostly fish, touched by fire.
You order, and yellowtail crudo hits the table. It’s piled high, topped with edible flowers, sorrel and shaved radish and dressed in a buttermilk nage (used to poach seafood). This is more the Meehan I know about. The rich fish serves as a perfect vessel for the tangy buttermilk nage to hitch a ride. You order the scallop ceviche and it comes to you resting in a clamshell, on a pink folded napkin, on a plate. Fried rice puffs, charred lemon, edible flowers, thinly sliced Fresno chilies, chives and microgreens deliver varying flavors that change with each bite — first bright, then sweet, then spicy.
The crispy scallop cake was
perfectly sold to us by our waiter, Chris, who understands the East Coast fish house inspiration behind the dish. “It’s deserving of being served in a damp Styrofoam container surrounded by far too many thick-cut fries,” he said. The dish is plated simply with a lemon wedge on the side and a topping of mustard frills. The fritter looks back at you from its cushion of tartar sauce and capers. The texture is borderline — how can I say it? — slick, unctuous and slimy, but in the very best way imaginable. It mocks you for liking it so much. It pokes fun at you for liking it more than the previous two dishes. “Really?” it says, “Your favorite dish here is the one seasoned with Old Bay?” It calls you on your snobbery! It teases you for ordering another. The batter is simple and provides the right amount of crunch, by way of what appears to be crushed-up cornflakes and the aforementioned Old Bay. The tartar sauce possesses a lexicon of depth and just the right amount of tang.
Continuing the trend of perfecting the simplest things, the chips and dip are the younger sibling to the crispy scallop cake — greaseless, sliced razor-thin, delicately fried and perfectly salted.
While most restaurants take the easy road and serve soggy chips while they’d be better off offering kettle chips right out of the bag, Koast doesn’t and they nail it.
The little gem salad was underwhelming.
Mains range from angel hair pasta with octopus to grilled prawns. There is also the obligatory cheeseburger for the non-fish folk, dry aged of course. The market fish has a delicate beurre blanc, with roe ladled over it for added brightness and is topped with fried spigarello leaves. I won’t go screaming to the rooftops about this dish, but it is a safe choice.
Meehan has been criticized for not letting go of his hyper precision when it comes to larger plates by dressing them with flowers and infused oils as if they were on a tasting menu. At Koast this doesn’t seem to be the case. Of course, smaller plates from the “raw” and “cured” sections come out intricately decorated, but as you move to the larger plates (and as is seen with the market fish) Meehan practices far more restraint.
When thinking of a Larchmont neighborhood restaurant with something for everyone, the mind goes to places such as Great White with its varied menu. Koast takes a more personal and idiosyncratic yet equally satisfying approach. You still want the cool California fine dining experience? Maybe you’re really jonesing for a rich, artery-clogging homage to the classic Americana fish shack of your childhood? Or maybe you just want a burger. Koast does it all, does it with passion and excellence and guarantees you’ll come back for more. Koast is at 6623 Melrose Ave., koastrestaurant.com.
BAY SCALLOP CEVICHE
CRISPY SCALLOP CAKE
LOUP DE MER
What are you reading? We asked Chevalier’s
It’s both a staff favorite and has seen an uptick in popularity in the past few weeks. As we spotlight one of the world’s most beloved writers, we must also visit one of his most seminal works. Since its initial publication in 1970, Gabriel García Márquez’s “100 Years of Solitude” has remained a steadfast classic, reconnecting with readers generation after generation. From its iconic opening line to its emotional and heartwrenching conclusion, 100 Years spins a vast and dynamic story. Its ability to encapsulate the complexities of love, war, revolution and poverty are so much more impactful when shown through the lens of the Buendía family, their lives and deaths refusing to remain in
the abstract due to Márquez’s masterful ability to create rich and compelling characters.
Asha Norman-Hunt
“My Friends” is a retrospective, fictional account of the Libyan revolution from the perspective of one of the country’s exiled sons. Hisham Matar is a man who loves words. It’s clear throughout this book. I loved the short chapters. Learning about Libya from a non-white point of view was enlightening. It holds a place of pride on my bookshelf. I look forward to devouring the rest of the work in Matar’s canon. 4/5 stars. Alex Tuchi, bookseller Let’s be frank. The romance genre has a bad reputation for being fluffy and lacking sub-
stance. “Before I Let Go” by Kennedy Ryan is most assuredly not that. Ryan’s writing is beautiful and poignant, somehow finding ways to make you feel like a raw nerve, exposed and vulnerable. It’s a story about healing from trauma and finding forgiveness in a world that can seem very unforgiving at times. But Ryan manages to draw you in with such humor and melancholy in equal measure that you can’t help but root for Yasmen and Josiah to find their way back to each other.
Carmen DeGiulio, bookseller
Are you part of a book club? Please tell us about a read your group is enjoying. Write to circulation@larchmontchronicle.com with “Books” in the subject line.
Japanese-style café serves Sapporo on tap
A new Japanese-style café in West Hollywood, Takagi Coffee, serves up fluffy millefeuille pancakes and freshly roasted coffee in a warm, welcoming, light-filled space. The food menu features Western-style yoshoku classics like omurice, chicken cutlet and spaghetti Napolitan. It’s that type of Japanese comfort food you might find at some coffee shop tucked away on a sleepy corner in Kyoto. But everyone’s here for the pancakes: a light and airy affair taller than your normal American stack, served up with fresh whipped cream, butter and tableside syrup. If you’re
86’d by Emerson Duggan and Bennett watanabe
feeling a bit more maximalist, order up one of their specialty stacks, like the matcha azuki (red bean), chocolate banana, or caramel apple pancakes. Sit back at the wraparound bar and watch your barista lovingly make a delicious coffee with beans sourced from some faraway land. And lest we forget — there’s Sapporo on tap. Takagi Coffee, 8048 W. 3rd St.
TAKAGI COFFEE’S Simone Brown serves up matcha or your choice of coffee made from beans roasted in-house.
Fixed streets
(Continued from Page 1)
tional streetlights, shade and mobility.
Larchmont Village was named a favorite spot in a survey conducted last fall by Investing in Place, a non-profit organization focused on improving public spaces in
Los Angeles. Larchmont was named by those surveyed as “a spot they visit weekly.” What drew them in? “It has everything we’re looking to have in L.A.” They go there “…to eat, [for] the farmer’s market, [and because it is] a nice area to be outside. The street is clean.” And why is it special to them? “Because
there are so many options.”
Half of L.A.’s sidewalks are broken, with over 50,000 unresolved repair requests and a 10-year wait for fixes or curb ramps. 22,000 empty tree wells sit baking in the sun, missing opportunities for shade, mobility and beauty.
Why? Because more than
The Plymouth School
20 city agencies, departments and bureaus oversee L.A.’s public rights-of-way, each with its own budget, mission and priorities, often working in silos, sometimes at cross-purposes to each other. There is no unified multiyear work plan, comprehensive project list or shared vision. The result? Infrastructure projects are piecemeal, slow and opaque to the public. Sidewalk repairs, tree plantings and street improvements happen inconsistently, if at all, depending on which agency is responsible or if they can coordinate.
Likely, you know this all too well. Maybe you’ve tried to get a crosswalk installed, a streetlight fixed or an access ramp added in your neighborhood. Maybe you’ve made the calls, submitted the requests and are still waiting years for basic improvements.
Public spaces like sidewalks, streets, parks and plazas are more than just infrastructure. They are the connective tissue of our communities, shaping social interaction, public health and economic vitality. Their condition reflects governance. Well-maintained public spaces signal a city that values equity, efficiency and transparency. Crumbling sidewalks, broken streetlights and neglected parks tell a different story: one of fragmented decision-making, poor financial management and a disregard for public well-being.
A simple way to start to fix this is a Capital Infrastructure Plan (CIP). Incredibly, L.A. is the only major city without one. San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, Boston, New York, Chicago, Houston and Seattle have CIPs. These plans establish a citywide vision and most importantly, a multi-year budget for public space investments, ensuring funding is transparent, coordinated and accessible. L.A.’s lack of a plan isn’t just an oversight, it’s a fundamental
barrier to a functional city.
In October Mayor Karen Bass took a first step toward systemic reform by issuing Executive Directive #9 (ED #9): Streamlining Capital Project Delivery and Equitably Investing in the Public Right-of-Way. This directive lays the groundwork for L.A.’s first-ever comprehensive CIP. However, unless Bass and City Council hear from Angelenos about how important and long overdue this directive is, it risks the status quo of the city spending at least a billion in tax dollars for sidewalks and streets every year without a plan. ED #9 risks becoming another well-intentioned policy that never gets operationalized, or worse, a bureaucratic exercise perpetuating the same fragmented systems responsible for today’s failures.
ED #9 highlights L.A.’s long-standing governance and infrastructure challenges, which will only intensify as the city prepares to host the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics. The devastating recent fires and recovery efforts have exposed the same weaknesses: a lack of coordinated planning, investment and execution. Disasters don’t create problems; they expose and deepen them. Without a CIP, Los Angeles will remain reactive instead of resilient. A CIP isn’t just a bureaucratic tool; it’s a long-term strategy to ensure the city can prepare, recover and build a stronger, more equitable future.
It’s time for Los Angeles to stop managing its public spaces as an afterthought and start treating them as the essential city-building tools they are.
Jessica Meaney is executive director of Investing in Place. For almost two decades Meaney has led efforts in Los Angeles to promote inclusive decision making and equitable resource allocation in public works and transportation funding.
EDZEL PEREZ enjoys the public space at Robert L. Burns Park on Van Ness Avenue.
New cultural space honors the late ‘pop-art nun’ Corita Kent
By Nancy Redford
The Corita Art Center (CAC) will open its new gallery and workshop site in the heart of the Los Angeles Arts District on March 8, 2025, at 811 Traction Ave. This will give visitors a chance to engage with the work of one of Los Angeles’ most significant cultural figures of the ’60s and ’70s — Corita Kent, a nun turned educator, artist and social justice activist.
“Corita was a pioneering artist who challenged societal norms and used her creativity to inspire reflection, connection and change,” said Nellie Scott, CAC executive director.
“We are honored to open our doors to serve others at a time when Los Angeles, the nation and the world need Corita’s artwork, messages and social practice the most.”
The inaugural exhibition at the Center will debut the full suite of Kent’s “heroes and sheroes,” 29 prints that represent a pivotal moment in her artistic journey, made during the social upheaval of the late 1960s.
The gallery will also feature murals inspired by Kent’s artwork, created through collaborations with Los Angeles-based designers, sign painters and community organizations. These include
a mural of Kent’s iconic “Ten Rules,” a set of guiding principles she co-authored with her students at Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles and murals inspired by her serigraphs In (1964) and Left (1967), which used directional street signs as source material.
Born Frances Elizabeth Kent in 1918, Corita entered the religious order of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as a young woman, taking Sister Mary Corita as her religious name. She became a teacher at Immaculate Heart College, eventually chairing its art department, and there began her path to printmaking in the 1950s. Her vibrant colors and bold imagery captured the nation’s attention. Her work was acquired by private collectors and numerous institutions, including The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, Museum of Fine Art in Boston, the Ham-
Cookie sales
(Continued from Page 1) things to do in Girl Scouts.” Hanna Lou of Larchmont Village agrees with Nora about selling cookies and adds, “It makes people happy.”
Last year these girls used their cookie money to help families in need through Family to Family, a grassroots nonprofit that, according to their website, “links families with more, to families with profoundly less.” Nora said she really enjoyed the experience of helping people.
Selling cookies allows Girl Scouts to set goals, make decisions, manage money and learn people skills and business ethics. So there’s more to that box of cookies than
mer Museum in Los Angeles and the Library of Congress. In 1968 she took a sabbatical, released her vows and moved to the East Coast, choosing to go by the name of Corita. She was an independent artist until her death in 1986 at age 56 from cancer.
Kent left her unsold works and copyrights to the Immaculate Heart community, which eventually funded the Corita Art Center (CAC) to honor and preserve her legacy for future generations.
In addition to providing a home for the artist’s work, the Center also features an archive and offers opportunities for collaborations with nonprofit and educational organizations. Staying true to Kent’s vision that art should be accessible to all, it will continue to offer free admission to all visitors.
just deliciousness.
This troop members revealed that their favorite cookies are frozen Thin Mints. Nora added that she likes them best in vanilla or chocolate ice cream. And just as a reminder, this is the last year for S’mores, so stock up if those are your favorites.
Throughout the year, troops do activities and have adventures to earn badges. This troop is lucky enough to have a leader who sews their badges onto individual jeans jackets! Iris of Larchmont Village and Sophie said their favorite badge is the one for helping animals. “We went to the Annenberg PetSpace last year and helped adopt and care for pets,” said Iris of the trip to the Playa Vista adoption center.
Sister Corita Kent in her studio, around 1965. Photo courtesy of Corita Art Center
CORITA KENT IN 1970.
Athletes continue to train and compete despite tragic fire
I witnessed something extraordinary while attending an evening of basketball between Palisades and Hamilton high schools at Pierce College. The first game featured the freshmen / sophomore squads, and once that was finished, the players from Palisades removed their jerseys and passed them along to their JV teammates, who were waiting to play in the next game. I didn’t understand until a Palisades parent sitting nearby explained.
“They have to share because most of the jerseys were lost in home fires or are stranded in the school lockers.”
Optimism
“It’s still standing,” said Palisades Charter High School Athletic Director Rocky Montz, who is optimistic about his school.
“The initial reports were too hasty regarding Palisades High being entirely burned down,” explained Montz.
“The original buildings are concrete and brick, so they didn’t burn. About 70 percent of the school is still there.”
The recent wildfires in Los Angeles County haven’t left much hope for communities like Pacific Palisades, and it’s been especially difficult for the youth.
“We’ve had kids on the team lose their homes, and several others are displaced for the time being,” explained Palisades’ head wrestling coach Mike Lawlor.
How does a high school ath-
Youth Sports by Jim Kalin
letic program continue after such a tragedy when it occurs right in the middle of their season?
“So much equipment is at the school,” said Montz. “We’ve been unable to get in to assess what’s salvageable and what needs to be replaced.”
The process of cleaning and disinfecting the school will take months, which means the students aren’t returning this year.
Reboot
So how about practice and competitions?
“We’re lucky to have access to a jiu jitsu space big enough to fit our whole wrestling team,” said Lawlor.
“We’re practicing there for the rest of the season.”
That jiu jitsu business is called The Coop BJJ, and owners Alex Chow and David Telfer have been sympathetic and supportive of the wrestling team.
“It’s all about the kids,” said
Chow.
Other local high schools offered their wrestling rooms to the wrestlers, but that meant juggling schedules for both teams.
“The most important thing is consistent schedules for practices,” said Montz.
The Coop BJJ was the best option.
Palisades’ boys and girls basketball teams have played their home games at various locations. Pierce College made their gym available, but only part-time because their own student athletes require the facilities. Practice locations have been equally challenging.
“We are finalizing practice times at Paul Revere Middle School and University High School, but neither is confirmed yet,” said Montz. “At this point, the teams are still practicing at gyms wherever we can find them.”
Noah Riddell attended Larchmont Charter School Selma and is now a ninth grader at Palisades. He’s on the volleyball team, and their season is just beginning. Unlike the wrestlers, the vol-
leyball players don’t have a permanent practice location.
“Our coach has been asking around and hopes to get a gym,” he said. “So far, we’ve practiced at Pacifica Christian High School and Actyve Volleyball in Santa Monica.”
Rising
Painted on the Palisades wrestling room wall is “Randy’s House: In Loving Memory.” This is a dedication to Randy Aguirre, who founded the wrestling program. He died in 2015. He was only 30 years old.
Aguirre would be proud of these Palisades wrestlers.
They are persevering. They have no idea if their wrestling room or mats are ruined. Most of them left equipment in lockers.
At the start of the season, the team fundraised for new warmups.
“Those arrived just days before the fire and are still in boxes in my office,” said Montz. “Since we haven’t
(Please turn to Page 19)
Government and bakery goods are on the menu
By Jim Kalin
Youth & Government is a national YMCA program that teaches teens about government through firsthand experience. They engage in and debate experiential civic issues that affect citizens in their state and even propose legislation. The program culminates with the teens serving as delegates at their state conference, where they debate bills on the legislature’s floor.
bers recently on Larchmont Boulevard, where fundraising efforts were underway.
We caught up with some mem-
“We were fundraising to help with the food and lodging costs during our trip to Sacramento,” said Everett Mohr. The trip took place the weekend of February 15 -16.
Youth & Government is a
program offered through the local Anderson Munger Family YMCA. Donations can be made directly to the YMCA at cutt.ly/amydonation, but the delegates will continue their weekend bake sales on Larchmont Boulevard. The snickerdoodles were a favorite, we heard.
PALISADES BOYS’ basketball teams have played some of their home games at Pierce College since the Palisades Fire.
LARCHMONT CHARTER students (left to right) Aiden Smith, Audrey Yerrid, Everett Mohr, Hailey Kang and Eunice Moon are members of the Youth & Government program.
What’s the big deal? Money, free agency and more money
By Chase Campen
I’m not originally from here, but it doesn’t take long to know that the rivalry between USC vs. UCLA is a pretty big deal. And sure, UCLA is by far the top dog. But football is king, and on the gridiron, USC is big brother, and they aren’t letting UCLA up for air anytime soon. If you’re a UCLA fan, don’t shoot me. I’m just the messenger. USC has an 11-1 lead in national titles and an 8-1 edge in Heisman trophy winners; the gap isn’t close.
How big is the chasm?
If you were on one of those around-the-world cruises the last four years and missed those changes, allow me to briefly fill you in. Four years ago, it became legal to start paying college players for their performance on the field, and they are now getting paid — handsomely. Also, seven years ago a thing called the Transfer Portal was created, enabling college football players to transfer schools one time in their career for any reason; this was a game changer. However, beginning last season, continuing legislation in the sport caused the Transfer Portal to be open every year. That’s unfettered free agency, and the players are getting paid.
But let’s take a deeper dive on our two local teams. Four years ago, USC, ending the Clay Helton era, hired the hottest coach available on the coaching carousel, Lincoln Riley. Considered an offensive mastermind, his teams won 55 games in five years, won their conference four times and advanced to three playoffs. His hiring was a coup for USC. It’s rumored his contract paid him more than $10 million per year. Or so it seemed.
Meanwhile, when he arrived at USC’s Heritage Hall and prepped for his first season there, UCLA had just
Youth Sports
(Continued from Page 18) been able to enter the school, we have no idea if they survived.”
“We’re selling Pali Strong T-shirts to raise money for families in need,” said Coach Lawlor.
The best way to find the shirts is through the team Instagram page @pali_wrestling.
Donations for all Palisades athletics can also be made at givebutter.com/pchsfund. In the comment section, specify a sport or write “general.” For non-monetary donations, contact Rocky Montz at 310-230-6654 or rmontz@ palihigh.org, or Jim Kalin at jkalin.awn@gmail.com.
completed a fourth season with Chip Kelly at the helm. Kelly himself was basically an older version of Riley; an offensive wunderkind who won 46 games in four years at Oregon University, three conference championships and had a national championship game appearance. By the time Riley got to L.A., Kelly was one game under .500 through four years at UCLA. Today he’s long gone, replaced by a former Bruin who’d never even been a coordinator, Deshaun Foster. Advantage USC, right?
Well, not so fast. Despite arriving with his own uber-talented and eventual Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams, Riley is only 26-14 through three years at USC. Since arriving, his programs have lacked two critical things: defense (easy to measure) and toughness (harder to measure). To address the former, USC lured UCLA’s defensive coordinator (remember, USC IS big brother) to fix their defense beginning in 2024. Considering that USC out-recruits the Bruins every year, you’d think this would tilt the scales significantly in their favor, right? Nope. This year the Bruins, with a first-time head coach, a new defensive coordinator and seemingly lesser talent, finished 39th nation-
Festival of books comes to USC April 26 to 27
The 30th Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is taking place at USC Sat., April 26 and Sun., April 27. This free annual event will host over 600 authors and 300 exhibiters as well as stations with activities for all ages, musical performances and TV and movie screenings. The lineup will be announced soon.
For ticketed portions of the weekend, early bird friend of the festival tickets have gone on sale for the discounted price of $175. Regular tickets will be available starting Wed., March 12. Visit tinyurl. com/mr4chcfm.
ally in total defense. USC, with the Bruins’ old coordinator and seemingly every advantage, finished 77th and trailed UCLA in seemingly every defensive category. Remember that comment about toughness? As for roster turnover, consider this: USC’s last Pac 12 championship came in 2017. That team was led by quarterback Sam Darnold and received key contributions from Michael Pittman, Jack Jones, Ronald Jones and Austin Jackson…players who had long Trojan careers. In fact, Darnold is the last quar-
Chasing Sports by Chase
this fall, and will it matter when they play in November?
Campen
terback to begin AND end his career at USC.
Everything you thought you knew about USC football has changed. They still hold nearly every competitive advantage over UCLA, yet have a mere 4-3 edge over the Bruins in the last seven matches.
In the last recruiting cycle USC finished with the fifth best class in the Big 10; UCLA finished last. Will it matter
Foster is going into his second season, and his quarterback is likely to be a transfer from Appalachian State. Riley heads into his fourth season at USC in a year many suggest could be his last to show true progress. The Trojans have made several important hires in the player personnel side of the sport. It’s yet another edge the program has over the Bruins, but the question remains — will it matter?
