My Glaswegian father-inlaw would clap his hands, smile at us and say, “Well, we havenee’ died a winter yet!” when we as a family were faced with some insurmountable task. It’s a great way to get the spirits up (along with a glass of whiskey) but, September is National Preparedness Month, so let’s get real and maybe do a wee’ bit o’ prepping.
The Ready LA County website reminds us that “Emergency situations become disasters when they overwhelm the resources that are there to protect our community.” So the best thing we can all do is make sure we’ve done our due diligence in preparing ourselves and our community just in case there
Chronicle hit newstands
52 years ago
n First issue published in September 1963
Against the odds, Jane Gilman co-founded the Larchmont Chronicle in September 1963, 52 years ago this month. It was an uphill battle for her and fellow co-founder Dawne Goodwin to get their feet in the door in an era when women were still known by their husbands’ last names.
Read about how they did it.
By Jon Vein
A couple of years ago, Los Angeles voters approved Measure ULA—better known as the “mansion tax.” The idea was simple enough: when a property sells for more than $5 million, the seller pays an extra tax and that money goes straight into housing and homelessness programs.
The tax is steep: 4% on sales between $5 and $10 million,
and 5.5% on anything higher. That means if your home sells for $6 million, the city collects $240,000 before you even get to escrow fees. The good news first Since it kicked in, Measure ULA has brought in over $702 million. For this year alone, the Los Angeles City Council has approved a $425 million spending plan. About $100
By Suzan Filipek
Last month the Los Angeles City Council voted 8-5 against Senate Bill 79, a state measure that would allow multistory buildings to be built near transit sites.
Opponents of the measure, which include several homeowner associations, argue the bill takes away local control and threatens neighborhoods. After the vote, residents reached out to Mayor Karen Bass requesting that she sign a resolution adopted by the council, “unless amended to exempt jurisdictions with a certified Housing Element.”
By Nona Sue Friedman
Over 15 restaurants have come on board to make this year’s Taste of Larchmont a fun and fruitful evening for HopeNet. This vital, one-andonly fundraiser takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Mon., Sept. 15, along Larchmont Boulevard between First Street and Beverly Boulevard. HopeNet is a nonprofit organization that provides healthy food and logistical support to 12 local faith-based food pantries.
This year’s theme is “Hope
n Critics lament ‘missed opportunity’
By Suzan Filipek
A decade ago, when Metro officials removed several palm trees from the Miracle Mile to make room for subway construction, they promised to bring trees back—twofold.
Rises.” In addition to restaurants, Executive Director Roya Milder has obtained close to
25 benefactors, sponsors and supporters to contribute to
Editorial
By Chronicle Editorial Board
Back to school, an empty nest, more time for community
As the days of summer are ending, we are finding a lot of our friends and neighbors are becoming empty nesters. What once seemed so far in the future is now coming in fast. While it can be a time of sadness, it can also be a time for new opportunities. We live in a community that has no shortage of interesting and impactful ways one can utilize the newfound freedom. Pickleball is one common refrain, book clubs are all the rage and community involvement is always a useful endeavor. One can even submit a story idea or coverage of a topic to the Larchmont Chronicle—a community paper that seeks to spotlight the voices of those in our neighborhoods. We hear a lot of news and chatter about AI and the fears many have about it. One of its intended outcomes is more time for people to do what they want. What if that time could be put to use in the community? Becoming involved in local politics could be a worthy endeavor, as the easiest way to affect change is from the inside. Be a part of the solution, be open to other ideas and learn how things get done in our city so we can prepare the city for the next generation.
Whether it’s being an empty nester or the sudden increase in time due to technology, the time is now. Our community and our city need you, now more than ever.
325 N. Larchmont Boulevard, #158 Los Angeles, California 90004 windsorsquare.org
157 N. Larchmont Boulevard
“By all these lovely tokens, September days are here. With summer’s best of weather and autumn’s best of cheer.”
— Helen Hunt Jackson
SB79: No Greater Threat to Windsor Square. State housing bill SB79 makes it legal in single family neighborhoods and historic districts to build 6 story apartment buildings within a half mile radius of a bus or transit stop. This means that all of Windsor Square and its HPOZ will be affected. Contact your state representatives to stop this bill now! Senator Maria Durazo senator.durazo@senate.ca.gov and Assemblymen Rick Chavez Zbur Assemblymember.Zbur@ assembly.ca.gov.
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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 contacting blockcaptains@windsorsquare.org and CD13 representative Mark Fuentes mark.fuentes@lacity.org o o o
SAVE THE DATE: The Annual WSA Townhall Meeting is scheduled for Thursday November 13th. LA District Attorney Nathan Hochman and Mayor Karen Bass have been invited to attend.
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“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 https://windsorsquare.org/safety-security/ emergency-preparedness/
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WE NEED BLOCK CAPTAINS! Be the leader of your block and point person for all that’s going on the neighborhood. The WSA has numerous block captain positions open. 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.
Calendar
Mon., Sept. 1—Labor Day.
Tues., Sept. 9—Mid City West Neighborhood Council board meeting, 6:30 p.m., at Pan Pacific Park, 7600 Beverly Blvd., midcitywest.org.
Wed., Sept. 10— Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council board meeting, via Zoom, 6:30 p.m., greaterwilshire.org.
Tues., Sept. 23— Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, begins at sundown.
Thurs., Sept. 25—Delivery of the October issue of the Larchmont Chronicle
Letters
to the Editor
No to Senate Bill 79
The following letter was sent to Assemblymember Buffy Wicks and the California State Assembly Committee on Appropriations.
Larchmont Chronicle
Founded in 1963 by Jane Gilman and Dawne P. Goodwin
Publishers
Hutcheson Publishing Group Editor in Chief
Hedy Hutcheson
Managing Editor
Suzan Filipek
Staff Writer
Priscilla Duggan
Advertising Director
Wyatt Pershing
Art Director Tom Hofer
Max Paek
Circulation Manager /
Office Manager
Nona Sue Friedman
Digital Media Manager
Rhett Hutcheson
Accounting
Irene Janas
Interns
Benjamin Gamson
Julia Guillen
Nathan Rifkin
‘Who was your favorite or least favorite teacher?’
That’s the question our inquiring photographer asked locals.
“Favorite: It was the ‘70s in Yonkers and public schools weren’t pushing art, but Joan Poloski, an artist, was my kindergarten and second grade teacher. That’s where I got my love of art, because she was so encouraging. She also taught history and had us paint who we studied. I still have artwork from her class, believe it or not! Every time I think about art I say, ‘I wish I knew Miss Poloski now!’”
Joanne
The Windsor Square Association has represented an historic Los Angeles residential neighborhood—Windsor Square—for more than 100 years. Our Mid-Wilshire Los Angeles community contains approximately 1,100 single-family homes and some moderate-density, multifamily buildings.
Despite the numerous amendments made to Senate Bill 79 to try to garner enough votes to pass this unneeded legislation, the punitive, anti-family neighborhood proposed law will cause enormous damage to stable communities if passed by the legislature. None of the recent amendments have remedied the fundamental flaws of SB 79. They have made them worse.
SB 79 is drafted to create profitable (to developers) multifamily housing in current single-family blocks. It does not address the need (that our community and association support) for affordable housing.
(Please turn to Page 23)
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.
“Least favorite: A teacher had us sign her ‘Community Repair Contracts,’ and if we did something really bad, we would get sent with it to the office. If you had over a certain number you’d be suspended. But she had no control over her class and would just dole them out. The office would just ignore them. They were useless.”
Desmond Garvey Windsor Square
“Favorite: Nancy Riegelman at Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising was encouraging and humble, especially considering she wrote the fashion book ‘9 Heads.’ I saw students so discouraged by their work, and she would say, ‘This is good, but let’s see if we can make it better,’ instead of degrading it. She would come into the store here (Larchmont Beauty Center) and I would tell her, ‘You are my favorite teacher of all time!’”
Gea
Gueron South Bay
Colonna Windsor Square
instagram @brigh2terabithia by Brighid Burnes
New boutique on the Boulevard; jewelers celebrate one year
By Chronicle staff
Lots of changes are happening on the Boulevard.
New to the street, Náti Boutique opened last month in the former Hidden Jeans store.
Casual and comfortable
“with a beach vibe” is how the clothes are described, and all items are under $200. Among the curated offerings are Hidden Jeans, known for being soft and stretchy, said Náti CEO Aviv Brawer-Cohen.
Silky skirts, Italian-made dresses, linen tops and jumpsuits can be perused in-store and online.
The family-owned women’s clothing company is at 130 N. Larchmont Blvd.
The company’s founder, Anat “Nati” Winston, opened her first shop nine years ago in Newbury Park, Calif. Locations followed in Malibu (where there are two), Venice,
“CASUAL,
AND
is how Gisele, an associate at Larchmont’s newest boutique, Náti, described the merchandise.
Newport Beach and New York City. Visit natiboutique.com.
Sadly, like Hidden Jeans, which left the Boulevard last month after three years, the Barking Lot closed last month after many years at
336 N. Larchmont Blvd. Store
owner Dr. Jan Ciganek retired last year from his veterinary practice, the Larchmont Animal Clinic, which was next door.
• • •
Meanwhile, Dr. Jessica Fishman expanded to a larg-
er animal medicine practice, Larchmont Village Vet, at 523 N. Larchmont, from her former location across the street.
The new space is in a bungalow-style renovated building, which can accommodate four doctors plus staff.
After the Chronicle went to press, the Larchmont Bou-
Taste
(Continued from Page 1)
the fundraiser. As Milder stated in an email, “Sponsorships are a big driver behind the financial success of the event and our ability to serve our clients.” According to her, the sponsorships confirmed so far for this year are in line with the last couple of years but still lower than pre-pandemic numbers.
As with any fundraiser, “fun” is embedded in the
levard Association met on Aug. 26 at Larchmont Jewelers at 119 N. Larchmont. Owner David Lee celebrated his one-year anniversary on Larchmont Boulevard at the historic building that is the third luxury retail store in Los Angeles for Hing Wa Lee Group. Guests enjoyed wine and charcuterie and a tour.
name. Taste is a great opportunity to explore the different food venues on the Boulevard and mingle with neighbors and friends. The organizers anticipate 300-400 attendees. HopeNet is looking for additional board members. Keep an eye out for a mailed invitation or visit hope-net. org to buy a $50 ticket. If you are interested in sponsorship or becoming a board member, reach out to Milder directly at 323-804-6059.
LARCHMONT VILLAGE VET associates Annette Guizard (left) and Joselyn Flores.
POLICE BEAT
Knife brandished through peephole; burglar pushed out
OLYMPIC DIVISION
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT:
In a domestic violence incident on Aug. 9 at 9 p.m., a suspect brandished a knife through a peephole on the 200 block of North Manhattan Place.
BURGLARIES: A suspect entered a home through the back door while the victim was home on the 200 block of North Saint Andrews Place. The victim pushed the suspect out who in turn fled the location on Aug. 1 at 2:40 a.m.
WILSHIRE DIVISION
Furnished by Senior Lead Officer
Tyler Shuck
213-712-3715
40740@lapd.online
Twitter: @lapdwilshire
A burglar entered a home through the rear screen door on the 700 block of South Bronson Avenue on Aug. 2 at 4 p.m. The suspect locked dogs in a second floor bed-
September Events Calendar
GLORIA MOLINA GRAND PARK’S BLOCK PARTY, a free celebration of music, art and community, takes place Sat., Sept. 6, from 3 to 9 p.m. This year’s theme, “Homegrown Resilience,” reflects the spirit of recovery from the wildfires to federal immigration raids, and includes DJs, art exhibits, food trucks and a 3D drone show lighting up the night sky. The event will span three blocks from Grand Avenue to Broadway Street. Visit grandparkla.org.
7
LOS ANGELES KIDS BOOK FESTIVAL celebrates a love of reading with a day of stories, music and fun, Sun., Sept. 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at West Hollywood Park, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd. The third annual event celebrates early childhood education, bilingualism and multiculturalism. Children’s authors and illustrators from around the country will be at the festival. Panels on writing children’s books and live performances
are also featured. The event is sponsored by the American Born Chinese Foundation. Free. Visit americanbornchinesefoundation.org.
21
JUST IN TIME, songstress Charlotte Carpenter Lewis and her band, The CharlotTones, will perform works from the Great American Songbook on Sun., Sept. 21 at Hope Lutheran Church, 6720 Melrose Ave. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and includes dinner and a reception. “Glee” star Bill A. Jones will make a guest appearance. Visit hopelutheranhollywood.com.
22
GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, will welcome the autumn equinox on Mon., Sept. 22, with a presentation in the Gottlieb Transit Corridor at 12:35 p.m. followed by a sunset presentation at 6:35 p.m. on the West Terrace (said to have the best sunsets in town). While Griffith Observatory is closed on
OLYMPIC DIVISION
Furnished by Senior Lead Officer
Daniel Chavez
213-793-0709
36304@lapd.online
Instagram: @olympic_slo1
room and took property.
WILSHIRE DIVISION
BURGLARIES: A burglar shattered the rear glass door of an apartment, took proper-
Mondays—and that will still be true on the day of the autumnal equinox—both events will take place on the Observatory grounds and are free. The Observatory is located on the south slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, griffithobservatory.org.
28
BOOKS ‘N BRUNCH, Big Sunday’s annual colossal sorting event takes place Sun., Sept. 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its new headquarters, 1741 N. Cherokee Ave. Volunteers are needed to count, sort and pack books. Other ways to participate are to donate books for kids and young adults or purchase from a wish list. For information email nicolo@ bigsunday.org.
ty and fled back out through the same door on Aug. 7 on the 400 block of North Rossmore Avenue.
A suspect entered a garage through an unlocked
Council OKs
(Continued from Page 1)
In a letter, Maria Pavlou of United Neighbors and Cindy Chvatal-Keane of Hancock Park Homeowners Association wrote, “We ask you to stand up for your diverse L.A. communities and for local control in light of the fact that our L.A. Housing Element is state certified and adds all the housing density required by the state while not destroying communities.”
While the council’s action will not defeat the measure, lawmakers hope the resolution will strengthen the city’s will in Sacramento.
After receiving 1,300 emails, the mayor signed the resolution the next day, Aug. 20.
“Together we did it! The city can now lobby the state,” Pavlou and Chvatal-Keane wrote in an email following
door and was confronted by the victim on Aug. 8 on the 600 block of South June Street. The suspect dropped the stolen property and fled the premises.
the mayor’s signature.
SB 79, introduced by Sen. Scott Wiener, has passed the Senate and is before the Assembly Appropriations Committee, which was scheduled to vote in late August (after the Chronicle went to press) to determine if the bill goes before the Assembly floor for a vote. If passed, the bill will go to Gov. Gavin Newsom, possibly in October.
Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez was among those who opposed the resolution and was in favor of SB 79 in an effort to add more housing to help with the city’s homelessness issue.
Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky said she also wanted more housing density, but that SB 79 is not “smart or responsible” and overrides planning tools recently implemented in the city’s housing element. She voted in the favor of the resolution.
Ecclesia Gnostica Gnostic Christian Church
Bishop Dr. Stephan Hoeller
Sunday Eucharist 11am
Sunday Eucharist 11:00am
Larchmont 's own Rebecca Fitzgerald MD a board-certified dermatologic surgeon, brings extensive experience and up-to-theminute expertise to the convenience of your own neighborhood
Indian Summer: a season for recalibration and transitions
“Indian summer” is a term used to describe a stretch of warm weather that lingers unexpectedly into September. It’s a liminal window between summer and fall, when the days are sunny and warm and the nights are crisp. Something subtle begins to shift—not just in the air, but in us.
For this piece, I sat down with Dr. Jim Blechman, a renowned physician and longtime local Angelino. Although he technically works in western medicine, Blechman weaves homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture into his practice for a more integrative model.
When I asked him about this transition period he said, “It’s the season between the seasons—it’s not really a season, it’s between two.” He used to offer a class to his patients called “Honoring the Seasons Within,” built around the idea that our internal rhythms mirror the external climate, adding, “Indian summer is the time where you have to recalibrate yourself to meet the season.” In TCM, this recalibration is physiological as much as psychological. The organ associated with this transition period is the spleen, which governs digestion and overall vitality. “A weak spleen makes it harder to fight off illness,” he explained. “If someone is struggling with digestion, especially in colder months, I’ll take them off raw foods entirely. What you
Health & Wellness
By Priscilla Duggan
want in winter are warming, grounding foods—stews, root vegetables, baked apples.” Even buffalo meat, he said, is particularly strengthening for the spleen.
Blechman emphasizes the importance of supporting the immune system, particularly for children returning to school. “I put kids on a return-to-school formula,” he said. “It includes elderberry, astragalus and vitamin C Astragalus is a fantastic herb for transition periods, but remember not to use it if you have a fever since it can feed it.” When no fever is present, he uses it widely—even with patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation.
In addition to herbs, Blechman considers the thymus gland to be the immune system’s underappreciated warrior and a key site for protection against viruses. The thymus harnesses the power of the innate immune system to work against viruses through the production and development of T-cells. Astragalus supplements can also be very supportive to the thymus. The thymus sits below your sternum and can also be stimulated through vibrations or tapping. “Someone once told me that if you want to strengthen your thymus, get a cat and let it sit and purr on your chest. I always thought that was funny,” said Blech-
skin deep
by Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald
Q: My hair is thinning, (I’m a 46-year-old female), and I’m freaking out. What do you suggest?
A: Hair loss remains one of those issues that cause people to feel incredibly alone. Of course, we know that hair loss can happen for women and men, for a variety of reasons including genetics, aging, and post-partum. But that doesn’t address just how deeply personal and devastating it can feel. You know I’m about to give you some good news, right?
DOCTOR JIM BLECHMAN (seated) with longtime friend and chiropractor Fernando Mata. man.
For adults navigating back-to-work burnout or the slow return of seasonal stress, Blechman often turns to adaptogens—plants that help regulate the body’s stress response. His favorite?
Wild Siberian ginseng, ideally paired with rhodiola. “Siberian ginseng is particularly great because it modulates blood pressure,” he said. “If yours is high, it brings it down. If it’s low, it brings it up. But it’s heating—so don’t take it in summer or Indian summer. Wait until fall and winter,
when you need the warmth.”
And what about diet? “The worst thing you can do in this transition season (and into the fall/winter) is eat sugar,” Blechman warned. “From a Chinese medicine standpoint, sugar drains you and makes you vulnerable. Some would say it increases your yin energy.” Of course, he acknowledges, that’s not so easy for kids constantly bouncing between birthday parties and bake sales. “That’s why I try to support them with herbs. Healing through diet can be a little impractical today.”
Impractical, maybe, but not impossible. Indian summer is a subtle invitation to slow down, look inward and start making small, grounded changes. In a season between seasons, that’s often the best we can do—listen closely, prepare gently, and, if necessary, adopt a cat.
KeraFactor is a breakthrough serum containing proteins and growth factors wrapped in nanoliposomes to maximize absorption by your scalp. In other words, it packs the nutrients that your scalp needs packaged in an ideal delivery system to stimulate your hair follicles to grow hair. We are dream-teaming KeraFactor and laser technology to penetrate the serum to the perfect depth for regrowth. Your hair is parted, and the gentle laser is applied to your scalp. KeraFactor is immediately massaged into your skin, and you relax under a red light for 10 minutes. Following your appointment, you’ll simply apply the serum every other day at home. We typically recommend three to six treatments spaced six weeks apart. The results are good, as in “wow” before and after photos good. Contact our office to schedule your first KeraFactor with laser treatment, and please remember, you are never alone with us.
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.
LARCHMONT CHRONICLE presents
Foreign countries, deep dive into government for college grads
By Nona Sue Friedman
There is the usual path— graduate from high school, go to college, graduate from college, get a job or continue another leg of your formal education. But what about those college graduates who decide to do something else? Each of these recent grads chose the path less taken for their first year out of college.
While attending UC Berkeley, Zöe Gittelson, of Brookside, spent one semester of her junior year studying in Madrid, Spain. “I loved living abroad and wanted to do it again,” the recent graduate
exclaimed.
And Gittelson made it happen. She will be spending this October through the end of May in Madrid. This time she will be an English teacher’s assistant. She applied and was accepted to a Spanish government program called the North American Language and Culture Assistants Program. The program fosters collaborative educational programs between the U.S. and Spain, similar to a Fulbright scholarship.
As part of the program, she will receive a monthly stipend but has to find her
own housing. She’s not worried since she’s already lived there.
Through the program, she may be assigned to work with pre-school children up through college aged students, a huge range, she noted. “I just have to be ready for whatever comes,” Gittelson said. She wants to become fluent in Spanish and feels this is an excellent opportunity.
After her time abroad, she plans on moving to Washington, D.C., to use her political science degree and find a job dealing with government policy or working for a political campaign, since it will be an election year.
Like Gittelson, Teva Corwin, of Windsor Square (the two are best friends), also spent time abroad during her tenure at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. She spent her junior year in Bogota, Colombia. “It was awesome; I loved it! It was the best thing ever,” she gushed.
“I didn’t want to enter the real world yet,” said the recent college graduate. She applied to different programs and received a Fulbright Foreign Scholarship, one of about 8,000 awarded worldwide. She is headed to Ciudad
Guzmán, a small, rural town, “with a Walmart,” Corwin noted, in Jalisco, Mexico. She is part of the English Teaching Assistant Program.
In Ciudad Guzmán, Corwin will work with undergraduates at a teachers’ training college. Additionally, she will teach at a pre-school, gaining experience with the oldest and youngest students.
Corwin didn’t find out she had been accepted to the Fulbright program until this summer. Normally recipients are told in April, but the Trump administration unlawfully canceled the
scholarships of close to 200 recipients. In June, the 12member bipartisan Fulbright board voted to resign, as their letter states, rather than endorse unprecedented conduct. “Actions that [the board] believe[s] are impermissible under law, compromise U.S. national interests and integrity, and undermine the mission and mandates Congress established for the Fulbright program nearly 80 years ago.” Additionally, the administration has cut hundreds of millions of dollars to the program. It’s uncertain
(Please turn to Page 20)
MEETING UP IN Spain while studying in Spain are neighborhood pals Zöe Gittelson and Eli Weiss.
EXPLORING COLOMBIA during her year abroad is Teva Corwin.
Empty nesters take time to reconnect, travel and even read
By Helene Seifer
It’s back-to-school season, when many parents need to help their children transition from summer fun to the rigors of education. But for those whose children are heading to college, it’s a time of trepidation and change. How are parents handling their empty nests?
Discovering new interests
“I was sad for maybe ten days,” remembered Kate Corsmeier, whose daughter Ondine is entering her junior year at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. “Then it began to sink in. My time is my own.”
The Ridgewood resident is refreshing her college French and took up gardening. “I
needed something to nurture!” Corsmeier admitted. “I joined two book clubs. I don’t think I had read a book in 18 years!”
At first Ondine Corsmeier worried about her parents being alone and sent them to pottery classes and rooftop movie screenings. She needn’t have worried. The Corsmeiers have discovered pickle ball, playing every Friday with new friends who are also empty nesters. Kate Corsmeier noted their new spontaneity. “We went away for a weekend to Los Alamos on a whim.”
Husband Chris Corsmeier is more nostalgic. He wants to leave their daughter’s bedroom the way it was, whereas Kate stashes things in her daughter’s closet and uses her desk.
“There’s this part of your
life that’s suddenly gone,” Chris Corsmeier explains. “Driving them somewhere, helping with school projects. I have to get used to the dynamic that Ondine is an adult, not a child. She’s going to make her own decisions.”
Excited to reconnect Windsor Square residents Olivia and Steve Kazanjian have two daughters. Stella, a junior at nearby Scripps College in Claremont, California, can come home during weekends but will soon spend a semester in Copenhagen, Denmark. Grace (who goes by Gigi) is starting New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, so the Kazanjians will have a completely emp-
ty nest. They are embracing the change. In fact, Olivia engaged her older daughter in converting her bedroom into a guest and exercise room before leaving for college so she wouldn’t be shocked by the transformation. “Tears were shed while going through her stuff from the Plymouth School and St. James,” Olivia Kazanjian admitted. “Those were the best times of our lives.”
“When you’re a parent you have a responsibility to the kids to create an environment for them to be successful people, with kind characters,” said Steve Kazanjian. “We had dinner together nearly (Please turn to Page 20)
ENJOYING TIME TOGETHER, Chris and Kate Corsmeier bookend daughter Ondine.
THE KAZANJIANS: (from left) daughter Grace, Steve, Olivia and daughter Stella.
SARAH SHUN-LIEN BYNUM and Leigh Dana Jackson with daughter Willa Jackson.
Jaws returns for its 50th in new exhibit
By Julia Guillen
“Jaws: The Exhibition” will open Wed., Sept. 14, at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, 6067 Wilshire Blvd. “Jaws” was originally released in 1975, making this display a celebration of its 50th anniversary.
The exhibit will revisit Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster scene by scene, displaying original props, revealing glimpses behind the scenes of the film’s production and allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the world of “Jaws.”
With access to the director’s archives, the exhibition will explore the film’s production history. “Jaws” was based on the novel of the same name by writer Peter Bencheley.
The film was shot in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts starring Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw.
The movie “Jaws in 4K,” will be screened in the David Geffen Theater on Sun., Sept. 14, at 6:30 pm. For tickets, visit tinyurl.com/4m7mnwsb
For more information visit tinyurl.com/4u8wabbs.
(1975). Courtesy of Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Safety in L.A. is being taken seriously in this school year
By Julia Guillen
With school starting up again, many families fear for the safety of their children in the face of recent school shootings, traffic and immigration raids. Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky of Los Angeles Council District 5 reassured her constituents that protective measures are in place.
School Slow Zones
Since taking office, her district has helped establish hundreds of School Slow Zones citywide, introduced “No Right Turn on Red” restrictions and deployed close to 500 crossing guards.
Additionally, the Los Angeles Unified School
District (LAUSD) has expanded transportation for families who request it and trained principals and staff on what to do should immigration agents arrive near a school campus.
Red Cards Yaroslavsky’s office has also begun printing and distributing Red Cards free of charge. These cards illustrate what rights all people, regardless of immigration status, have under the U.S. Constitution.
LAUSD has also implemented a 24/7 Family Hotline for questions about school safety programs, which can be reached at 213-443-1300.
New Covenant Charity Golf Tournament set for Sept. 27
For a day of friendly competition and philanthropy, join in New Covenant Academy’s (NCA) annual Charity Golf Tournament.
The event, which takes place at noon on Sat., Sept. 27, at 27734 Sand Canyon Rd., Santa Clarita, supports New Covenant Academy’s stu-
dent-athletes and athletics programs.
Volunteers are encouraged to play in the golf tournament and invite others to join them, sponsor a golf hole and donate prize items. New Covenant Academy is at 3119 W. 6th St. Visit ncahuskies.org/ golf-tournament.
DIRECTOR STEVEN SPIELBERG, kneeling with camera, during production of “Jaws”
CAST AND CREW at production of the summer blockbuster. Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC.
Camp for underserved youth flourishes despite ICE fears
By Nona Sue Friedman
Four hundred and sixty seven underserved and unhoused kids from Los Angeles came to Camp Harmony, a free, four-night camp in Ojai, California in the middle of August. This was the biggest session in the camp’s more than 30-year existence. Before camp started, members of the board thought attendance might be an issue because of the fear that ICE raids have caused throughout the city.
“Many of these families are in a state of terror and uncertainty with regards to what is happening with ICE. The country isn’t the same,” said Drew Furedi, CEO of Para Los Niños (PLN) and a board member at United in Harmony, Camp Harmony’s parent organization. PLN is one of many institutions that Camp Harmony acquires campers from. It operates two charter schools and seven early education centers, where all of the student families fall below the federal poverty level, according to Furedi. “Camp Harmony gives the kids a few days of not having to worry,” he said.
Both Furedi and Camp Harmony executive director Lindsay Schwartz said they
received many more calls than previous years regarding the camp’s protocols for transporting and housing kids. “Parents were nervous and scared,” said Schwartz. This year camp buses weren’t allowed to make any stops once they picked up the campers.
Ten years ago, when Furedi took the job as CEO, one of the first things his staff talked to him about was the importance of Camp Harmony. Being a camper himself and knowing the positive impact it has on kids, he was all for continuing participation in the program. “Camp Harmony provides an experience for
these kids they would otherwise never have,” said Furedi. His son, who is a high school senior, was a counselor for his third and final year this summer.
The Chronicle caught up with Nick Melvoin at Camp Harmony’s carnival, the evening activity that serves as the finale for days spent at camp. The athletic field was transformed into a lively carnival buzzing with excitement, with games, giant slides, dunk tanks, prizes, soft serve and most importantly happy faces. Melvoin, a Larchmont Village resident, Los Angeles Unified School District board (Please turn to Page 13)
HANGING OUT WITH campers during the carnival is LAUSD board member and Camp Harmony Director Nick Melvoin.
FERRIS WHEEL attracted the biggest crowd at the carnival.
HELPING WITH THE GOLF booth at the carnival is volunteer and Hancock Park resident Robin Rosen.
WITH MOUNTAINS IN the background, the athletic field is magically transformed into a carnival.
A mindful approach to parenting and reducing stress for the whole family
By Nancy Redford
It’s the start of a new school year and your family will be wrestling with a new set of academic expectations, extracurricular demands, unspoken social rules and conflicting needs. Inevitably there will be times when stress will ratchet up and emotions will flare.
There are scientifically proven mindfulness techniques that can help reduce this stress and cultivate resilience. At the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center, studies on the psychological and physical health benefits of mindfulness have shown that it decreases anxiety, depression and stress and improves concentration and focus.
“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally,” said Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., founder of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Clinic.
The essence of mindful parenting is managing conflicts with curiosity, compassion and a calm center. For instance:
When things get tense, take a few deep breaths, focusing only on the present moment.
Without self judgment, acknowledge that you feel upset, angry or fearful; mentally note what factors led up to this moment; tune into your child and their behavior with as little judgment as possible; and problem solve from a calmer, clearer mental state, keeping in mind short- and long-term parenting goals. Sounds easy? Hardly! But we can train our mind to be less reactive and present-moment aware and bring that into our parenting. Consistency is the goal, so committing to a daily routine is important. Start small and
be patient with yourself.
Some useful meditative practices:
Breathing exercises
Find a comfortable posture and focus solely on full breaths through your nose, observing the flow of air in and out, feeling your belly rise and fall. Release any thoughts that arise, and return to your breath.
Body scan mediation
Either seated or lying down, starting from your toes and then up your body to your head, bring awareness to the sensations in your body and relax places where there is
physical tension. Guided meditations
An array of quality mediation apps can be downloaded and accessed, such as UCLA Mindful, Insight Timer, Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Meditation, Calm and Headspace.
A growing number of local schools offer parent mindfulness classes. Resources include Campbell Hall’s Parent Meditation Group, Harvard-Westlake’s Parent Mindfulness Club and LAUSD’s Inner Explorer program.
You can explore the topic of mindfulness and hear world-class teachers on the following podcast-series:
“Ten Percent Happier” calls itself “self-help for smart people” and is hosted by veteran journalist and best-selling author Dan Harris.
“Tara Brach,” hosted by Tara Brach, Ph.D., an internationally respected mediation teacher and author of “Radical Acceptance,” “True Refuge” and “Radical Compassion.”
You can also read about this topic in depth in publicaions:
“Parenting From the Inside Out” by Daniel J. Siegel and Mary Hartzell and “Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting” by Jon
Kabat-Zinn and Myla Kabat-Zinn.
The effort you put into cultivating a mindful parenting practice is a significant investment toward creating family harmony and raising resilient and confident children.
Family-friendly
‘Hallowe’en’ marionette revue tickets on sale
Halloween entertainment is beginning early this year at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater. Tickets are on sale for the all-ages, hour-long “Hallowe’en Spooktacular,” which boasts over 100 puppets. Showtimes begin Sat., Sept. 6, at 10:30 a.m. and run through Sun., Nov. 9.
Costumes are encouraged, and costume parades will be held at every Spooktacular show starting in October. This year’s Spooktacular includes a Día de los Muertos tribute.
A sensory-friendly version of the show with reduced lighting and volume takes place Sat., Oct. 11.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit bobbakermarionettetheater.com.
MINDFULNESS TECHNIQUES cultivate resilience in relationships between parents and children. Photo Luke Porter
Lunch Bunch creates clean cafeteria food and culinary classes
By Nona Sue Friedman
Natasha Case wanted to “make kids curious about food and more adventurous eaters.” She started the company Lunch Bunch after seeing how poorly kids eat at schools, especially in underserved neighborhoods.
Lunch Bunch is a multipronged company started in 2022. One part of their business creates school cafeteria meals for kids attending public school in grades K through 12. The prepackaged
meals are tasty, exclude artificial ingredients and are good for you. Case’s wife, Freya Estreller, and their two kids, who reside together in the Wilshire Park neighborhood, were some of the first tasters, most recently critiquing a
hand pie conceived as a twist on a Greek gyro.
Lunch Bunch has also morphed into a culinary after school program. Through research and conversations with school leaders, Case found that “After-school programs are the best funded part of the school day. Schools can’t spend it [state funds allocated for after-school programs] fast enough. Either use it or lose it.” Case also mentioned that Gov. Gavin Newsom has guaranteed the same funding for the next three years. For an entrepreneur like Case, who co-founded and then sold the wildly popular Coolhaus ice cream store, trucks and sandwiches with Estreller, this set the wheels in motion.
Case, along with a certified teacher and a fine dining chef, created an after-school program where kids create one themed culinary delight per week. Think kimchi quesadillas, mango lassi, Welsh tea cakes, crepes and sushi. She launched the test pilot program through a friend at Bright Star Los Angeles Charter Schools. It was a success! The kids were engaged in the programming. The administration liked how Lunch Bunch took care of all the details—all they needed was a table and an electrical outlet.
In addition to making a meal, kids learn fractions from the recipes, knife skills and about other countries and cultures.
Just a year and a half later,
Camp
(Continued from Page 11)
member, new dad and former counselor at Camp Harmony, is also the camp’s volunteer director.
“I pushed for the Ferris wheel,” he said with pride. The attraction had the longest line all of the night.
“Some of these kids haven’t left their home or shelter in months because of the ICE raids. Here, they don’t have to think about that,” said Melvoin. He works with a volunteer team to create an unforgettable experience filled with typical camp activities such as arts and crafts, a ropes course, soccer, swimming, cake decorating—the list goes on. The camp operates with a volunteer staff, and high school counselors
Lunch Bunch is in 20 Southern California school districts. Larchmont Charter, where Case’s kids go to school, is one of the local institutions where the after-school program takes place. At most public schools, the culinary class is paid for by the school, so the student attends for free. In January, the company is expanding to the Sacramento area. After that, there’s talk of adding other states as well.
Case says the students get such joy from the program that they’re more motivated to go to school. Recently, one mom contacted Case and told her that her child just made her an omelet for breakfast. Case is still waiting for her kids to do that!
To find out more, visit lunchbunch.com.
pay to help sponsor a child at camp.
Robin Rosen, of Hancock Park, started volunteering at Camp Harmony when she was a junior in high school.
Now she is an adult volunteer who brings her elementary school-aged kids with her to help out at the annual carnival.
Rosen continues to come because “seeing the joy on the kids’ faces and giving them the camp experience I was fortunate enough to have is just incredible.”
She’s encouraging her kids to be counselors one day. Rosen is typical of a lot of adult volunteers who keep coming back year after year and then bring their kids too.
For more information about Camp Harmony, visit unitedinharmony.org.
LUNCH BUNCH CEO Natasha Case enjoys some of her company’s product. Photo from CanvasRebel Magazine
UNIQUE HAND PIE flavors created by Lunch Bunch for schools.
AFTER SCHOOL, KIDS are excited to make guacamole.
Directory of private and public schools
Following is a list of private and public schools both in and outside the Larchmont Chronicle’s delivery area. The information was attained by phone, email and the school websites. For cost of tuition at private schools and more information, contact the schools or visit their webistes. If we have missed a school you think should be included, please reach out to circulation@larchmontchronicle.com.
Kindergarten key:
K = kindergarten
TK = transitional K
PK = pre-K
DK = developmental K Nursery Schools
SPARK PRESCHOOL
4679 La Mirada Ave.
323-422-9690 ourccp.com
For children ages 2 to 6. Hours are 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m., with half and full day options and aftercare until 5 p.m.
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN PRESCHOOL
815 N. Alta Vista Blvd. 323-934-6512
christopherrobinpreschool. com
Susan Huber and Elizabeth de Roo, co-directors. For children ages 1 to 5 years, including parent and toddler and TK programs. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
HAPPY BIRCH PRESCHOOL
1423 & 1429 Tamarind Ave. 323-380-7311
happybirchpreschool.com
Dr. George and Mali Rand, co-founders. For children ages 1 to 5 years, including parent and toddler and TK programs. Hours are 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m., with aftercare until 5 p.m.
IKAR EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
910 S. Fairfax Ave. 323-634-1870
ikar.org/learn/ecc
Dr. Jane Rosen, director of education. Children ages 18 months to 5 years.
NEW HORIZON SCHOOL
434 S. Vermont Ave. 213-480-3145
newhorizonla.org
Jolanda Hendricks, principal. Islamic education for preschool and kindergarten.
PLYMOUTH SCHOOL
315 S. Oxford Ave.
213-387-7381 theplymouthschool.com
Diana Conforti, director. Ages 2 to 5. Full days are 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Half days are 8:45 to 11:45 a.m.
ST. JAMES’ EPISCOPAL PRESCHOOL
625 S. Gramercy Pl. 213-382-2315
sjsla.org
Rochelle Rosel, director. Ages 2 to 5. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with before and after school care at 8 a.m. and until 5 p.m.
SHIR-HASHIRIM
MONTESSORI SCHOOL
6047 Carlton Way 323-465-1638
montessorihollywood.org
Elene Cielak, director. Ages 2 to 5. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with before and after school care at 8 a.m. and until 5 p.m
SUNSET MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL
1432 N. Sycamore Ave. 323-465-8133
sunsetmontessori.com
Liliya Kordon, head of school. Serves ages 2 to 5 and offers parent and me classes for kids 18 months and up.
WAGON WHEEL SCHOOL
653 N. Cahuenga Blvd. 323-469-8994 wagonwheelschool.org
Ruth Segal, director. Ages 2 to 5, 110 students. Hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with optional after school care until 4:30 p.m.
JLA EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
5870 W. Olympic Blvd. 323-938-2531 thejla.org/ecc
Lauren Friedman, director. Ages 6 weeks to 5 years; infant care, preschool and TK. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
WALTHER SCHOOL
1246 N. Gardner St. 323-378-5732 waltherschool.org
Gloria Walther, head of school. For children ages 2 1/2 years to PK. Hours are either 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. Mon., Tue., Thur. and Fri. For PK only, hours are Wed. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WILSHIRE BLVD. TEMPLE
ERIKA J. GLAZER EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
3663 Wilshire Blvd. 213-835-2125 wbtecc.org
Floryn Rosendberg, site director. Ages 18 months to 5 years. Offers baby and me classes from birth to 2 1/2 years.
Parochial and Private Schools
ARCHER SCHOOL FOR GIRLS 11725 Sunset Blvd. 310-873-7000 archer.org
Elizabeth English, head of school. Grades six to 12; 500 students.
BAIS YAAKOV
SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
7353 Beverly Blvd. 323-938-3231
Joel Bursztyn, director. Ninth to 12th grade.
BRAWERMAN
ELEMENTARY WEST
11661 W. Olympic Blvd. 424-208-8934
BRAWERMAN
ELEMENTARY EAST 3663 Wilshire Blvd. 213-835-2170 brawerman.org
Gillian Feldman, head of school at East; Brandon Cohen, head of school at West. K to sixth grade, coed.
BRISKIN ELEMENTARY
TEMPLE ISRAEL OF HOLLYWOOD
7300 Hollywood Blvd. 323-876-8330, ext. 4000 briskinelementary.org
Hannah Bennett, head of school. K to sixth grade. After-school enrichment and supervision, Mon. - Thur. until 4:15 p.m.
THE BUCKLEY SCHOOL 3900 Stansbury Ave. 818-783-1610 buckley.org
Alona Scott, head of school. K to 12th grade. 830 students.
755 S. Cochran Ave. 213-883-4399 cathedralchapelschool.org
Donielle Mitchell, principal. Founded in 1930. K to eighth grade.
CENTER FOR EARLY EDUCATION
563 N. Alfred St. 323-651-0707 centerforearlyeducation.org
Damian Jones, head of school. Founded in 1939; 540 students. Ages 2 to sixth grade.
CHRIST THE KING
CATHOLIC SCHOOL
617 N. Arden Blvd. 323-462-4753 cksla.org
Ruth Anderson, principal. Catholic school that serves TK to eighth grade.
CURTIS SCHOOL 15871 Mulholland Dr. 310-476-1251 curtisschool.org
Meera Ratnesar, head of school. Founded in 1925. DK to sixth grade.
ECHO HORIZON
3430 McManus Ave. 310-838-2442 echohorizon.org
Peggy Procter, head of school. PK to sixth grade; 180 students.
FLINTRIDGE PREP 4543 Crown Ave., La Cañada Flintridge 818-790-1178 flintridgeprep.org
Vanessa Walker-Oakes, head of school. Seventh to 12th grade. FUSION ACADEMY 5757 Wilshire Blvd. 323-692-0603 fusionacademy.com
Jason Lions, area head of school. Rolling admission for grades six through 12. In-person and online customized one-to-one education with fulland part-time options.
HARVARD-WESTLAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL
700 N. Faring Rd. 310-274-7281
UPPER SCHOOL
3700 Coldwater Canyon Ave. 818-980-6692 hw.com
Richard Commons, president; Laura Ross, head of school. Serves grades seventh to 12th grade.
HOLLYWOOD SCHOOLHOUSE
1233 N. McCadden Pl. 323-465-1320 hshla.org
Ilise Faye, head of school. Preschool to sixth grade.
IMMACULATE HEART HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL 5515 Franklin Ave. 323-461-3651 immaculateheart.org
Maureen S. Diekmann, president; Naemah Z. Morris, high school principal; Gina B. Finer, middle school principal. Girls-only Catholic school for sixth through 12th grades; 700 students.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF LOS ANGELES, LYCÉE INTERNATIONAL 13639 Victory Blvd. 818-782-4001 internationalschoolla.com
Anneli Harvey, head of school. Four campuses throughout Los Angeles serving pre-school (Los Feliz) through 12th grade.
LAURENCE SCHOOL 13639 Victory Blvd. 818-782-4001 laurenceschool.com
Laurie Wolke, head of school. K to sixth grade.
LE LYCÉE FRANÇAIS DE LOS ANGELES 3261 Overland Ave. 310-836-3464 lyceela.org
Clara-Lisa Kabbaz, president. French and English curriculums available. Preschool to 12th grade; coed. Six campuses throughout Los Angeles.
Kristin Dickson, head of school. Ages 2 to eighth grade.
PARK CENTURY
3939 Landmark St. 310-979-2184
parkcenturyschool.org
Dr. Julie Porter, head of school. Serves kindergarten to eighth grade with language-based learning differences.
PILGRIM
540 S. Commonwealth Ave. 213-385-7351 pilgrim-school.org
Patricia Kong, head of school. Parent and me and preschool through 12th grade.
ST. BRENDAN
CATHOLIC SCHOOL
238 S. Manhattan Pl. 213-382-7401
stbrendanschoolla.org
Collette Young, principal. K to eighth grade.
ST. JAMES’ EPISCOPAL
625 S. St. Andrews Pl. 213-382-2315 sjsla.org
Diane Rich, head of school. PK to sixth grade.
THE SCHOOL OF LOS ANGELES 6325 Santa Monica Blvd. 323-462-3752 school.la
Dr. Kenneth Rodgers, Jr., head of school. Grades six through 12; 211 students.
SHALHEVET HIGH
910 S. Fairfax Ave. 323-930-9333 shalhevet.org
Rabbi David Block, head of school; Daniel Weslow, principal. Jewish; grades nine to 12.
STEM3 ACADEMY 6455 Coldwater Canyon Ave. 877-943-5747 stem3academy.org
Megan Davis and Zaldy Ramirez are co-heads of the school. Specializes in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects for students with high-functioning autism, ADHD or other social or learning challenges.
TREE ACADEMY
8628 Holloway Dr. 424-204-5165 treeacademy.org
Phú Tranchí, head of school. Sixth to 12th grades. Provides accredited small classes with individualized instruction.
TURNING POINT
8780 National Blvd. 310-841-2505 turningpointschool.org
Dr. Laura Konigsberg, head of school. Pre-school to eighth grade.
VISTAMAR SCHOOL
737 Hawaii St., El Segundo 310-643-7377 vistamarschool.org
Erik Carlson, interim head of school. Ninth to 12th grade.
WESLEY SCHOOL
4832 Tujunga Ave. 818-508-4542 wesleyschool.org
Greg Armbister, head of school. K to eighth grade.
WESTMARK SCHOOL 5461 Louise Ave. 818-986-5045 westmarkschool.org
Claudia Koochek, head of school. For children in grades two through 12 with language-based learning differences.
WESTRIDGE SCHOOL
324 Madeline Dr. 626-799-1153 westridge.org
Andrea Kassar, head of school. Girls only; fourth to 12th grades.
WILLOWS COMMUNITY 8509 Higuera St. 310-815-0411 thewillows.org
Lisa Rosenstein, head of school. DK to eighth grade.
YAVNEH HEBREW ACADEMY 5353 W. Third St. 323-931-5808 yha.org
Rabbi Dr. Eitan Lipstein, head of school. Established in 1958. From age 2 to eighth grade.
Public Elementary Schools
CHARLES H. KIM
225 S Oxford Ave. 213-368-5600
charleshkimes.lausd.org
Jonathan Paek, principal. K to fifth grade. Special education, gifted and talented, Spanish immersion, maintenance bilingual Korean program and structured English immersion programs.
CITIZENS OF THE WORLD HOLLYWOOD 1316 N. Bronson Ave. 323-464-4292
(Continued on Page 16)
cwchollywood.org
Kim Clerx, principal. TK to fifth grade. Charter school.
CITIZENS OF THE WORLD
SILVER LAKE
110 N. Coronado St. 323-705-9882
cwcsilverlake.org
Dr. Maureen Lamorena-Tatsui, principal. Charter school. TK to fifth grade.
LARCHMONT CHARTER
FAIRFAX
1265 N. Fairfax Ave. 323-656-6418
larchmontcharter.org
Mersedeh Emrani, principal; Jennifer Santangelo, assistant principal. TK to fourth grade.
LARCHMONT CHARTER
WILSHIRE
Grades TK - 3
4900 Wilshire Blvd. 323-836-0860
Grade 4 6611 Selma Ave. 323-836-0860
larchmontcharter.org
Eva Orozco, principal; Domi Miyamoto, assistant principal. TK to fourth grade.
MELROSE MATHEMATICS/ SCIENCE/ TECHNOLOGY MAGNET
731 N. Detroit St. 323-938-6275
melroseave.lausd.org
Mathew Needleman, principal. K to fifth grade. Gifted and talented program.
NEW LOS ANGELES
5753 Obama Blvd. 323-556-9500
newlaelementary.org
Jenna Rosenberg, principal. K to fifth grade. Charter school.
THIRD STREET
201 S. June St. 323-939-8337
thirdstreetschool.com
Hae Lee, principal. TK to fifth grade. Gifted magnet and Korean dual language programs.
VAN NESS AVENUE
501 N. Van Ness Ave. 323-469-0992
vannessavees.lausd.org
Regina Ramos, principal. TK to fifth grade for general education; PK to fifth grade for visual impairment special education. Science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) program, Mandarin language program.
WILSHIRE CREST
5241 W. Olympic Blvd. 323-938-5291 wilshirecrestes.lausd.org
Gayle Robinson, principal. TK to fifth grade; PALs (preschool special education); Spanish immersion program.
WILSHIRE PARK
4063 Ingraham St. 213-739-4760 wilshireparkes.lausd.org
LeighAnne Creary, principal. TK to fifth grade. Korean immersion program, K to first grade.
WILTON PLACE
745 S. Wilton Pl. 213-389-1181
wiltones.lausd.org
Marie-France Rallion, principal. TK to fifth grade. Dual-language programs for Spanish / English and Korean / English. School for advanced studies in grades third to fifth. Public Middle Schools
CITIZENS OF THE WORLD SILVER LAKE
152 N. Vermont Ave. 323-705-9882 cwcsilverlake.org
James Boganey, co-principal. Sixth to eighth grade. Charter school.
JOHN BURROUGHS MIDDLE SCHOOL
600 McCadden Pl. 323-549-5000 burroughsms.lausd.org
Steve Martinez, principal; Samuel Corral, magnet coordinator. Sixth to eighth grade. National magnet school of excellence, school for advanced studies, Korean and Spanish dual language programs.
Yasmin Esmail, principal; Greg Colleton, assistant principal. Grades five to eight.
NEW LOS ANGELES MIDDLE SCHOOL
1919 S. Burnside Ave. 323-939-6400 newlamiddle.org Terrence Wright, principal.
Grades six to eight. Public High Schools
FAIRFAX HIGH
7850 Melrose Ave. 323-370-1200 fairfaxhs.org
Leonard Choi, principal. Ninth to 12th grade. Programs feature career technical education, visual arts and police academy magnets.
GIRLS ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP
ACADEMY, DR. MICHELLE KING
SCHOOL FOR STEM 2328 St. James Pl. 323-900-4533 galacademy.org
Dr. Elizabeth Hicks, principal. Sixth to 12th grades. Girls only. Concentrates in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects.
GRAND ARTS
450 N. Grand Ave. 213-217-8600 grandartshs.lausd.org
Jewel Brown, principal. Grades nine through 12. Focuses on the arts.
HAMILTON HIGH 2955 S. Robertson Blvd. 310-280-1400 hamiltonhs.org
Jennifer Baxter, president. Ninth to 12th grade. Includes business and interactive technology academy, communication arts academy and school for advanced stud-
ies. Magnet schools include music, performing arts and humanities.
HOLLYWOOD HIGH 1521 N. Highland Ave. 323-993-1700
hollywoodhighschool.net
Samuel Dovlatian, principal. Grades nine through 12. Teaching career academy, performing arts magnet, school for advanced studies and new media magnet.
LARCHMONT CHARTER
LAFAYETTE PARK
2801 W. Sixth St. 213-867-6300
larchmontcharter.org
Mike Kang, principal; Robert Marquez and Haydee Garay, assistant principals. Grades nine to 12.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS
5151 State University Dr., Bldg. 20 323-343-2550 lachsa.net
Tina Vartanian, principal. Ninth to 12th grade. Specializing in college preparatory for visual and performing arts.
LOS ANGELES HIGH 4650 W. Olympic Blvd. 323-900-2700 lahigh.org
Marguerette Gladden, principal. Ninth to 12th grade. Includes science, technology, engineering, arts and math magnet, career and technical education and gifted and talented program.
Soccer
season
The fall soccer season for AYSO Region 78 Hollywood-Wilshire is readying to start on Sat., Sept. 6.
readies to kick off Sept. 6, volunteers needed
The younger divisions, 5 and 6 and under, kick off the following week, on Sat., Sept. 13
Sports and Teen Club offered at Seoul International
By Julia Guillen
This fall, basketball, soccer, flag football and volleyball will be offered by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks at Seoul International Park for ages 3 to 17. Tryouts are hosted throughout September, and teams begin practicing on Mon., Oct. 20.
A Teen Club is also being offered for kids ages 11 to 17 looking to participate in sports, games and field trips.
Park
There is also resources for homework help, internship opportunities and more on Mondays through Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
While the Teen Club is free, the sports have a $10 fee per sport. The Seoul International Park is located at 3250 San Marino St. For more infor, call 213-383-7549 or email admore.recreationcenter@ lacity.org.
1948
“While regular registration closed July 31, there are still a few openings in different divisions. Registration for our 5U/6U division (birth years 2021/2022) will remain open as we will form as many teams as possible as long as we have enough volunteers,” Regional Commissioner Kurt Muller, of Larchmont Village, told us.
AYSO is an all-volunteer organization.
“AYSO has been the soccer league for Larchmont and the neighboring communities since 1976. We are already looking forward to the 50th anniversary next year,” Muller said.
Campus Tours: starting in September
Parent & Me: ages 14-24 months
Pre-school and TK: ages 2-5 years
Location: 653 N. Cahuenga Blvd.
Web: www wagonwheelschool.org
Phone: 323-469-8994
“We always encourage everyone to register ASAP, since we start coordinating volunteer coach and referee training in mid-August,” Muller continues.
The home field for practices and games will be at Fairfax High School, with a few other additional fields for space as needed.
Sign-ups for girls’ basketball ends Sept. 10
Goldie’s Youth Sports girls’ basketball league sign-ups are open through Wed., Sept. 10, for girls ranging from first grader through 16 years old. The fall season is from Mon., Oct. 6, through Sun. Dec. 7, at St. Brendan School Gym, 238 S. Manhattan Pl. Practices are weekly and games take place on weekends beginning in October. For more information and fees contact goldie@goldiesyouthsports.com.
Wilshire Wildcats set to play softball with first game Sept. 13
While early registration has passed, regular registration is open until the Wilshire Wildcats girls’ softball team’s first game on Sat., Sept. 13. Practice games are already underway at Lemon Grove Recreation Center, Wilshire Board President Keith Perera told us.
“Our season ends in the
beginning of November. This fall we will have a 10-and-under, 12-and-under, and high school team,” he added. You can visit their instagram: @wilshirewildcatssoftball. To register, go to wilshiresoftball. com. For more information contact Keith at 323-383-5954, or president@wilshiresoftball.com.
Holocaust Museum LA offers programs at Skirball, The Grove
By Julia Guillen
Holocaust Museum LA is closed for construction until June 2026. However, it still offers many not-to-be-missed off-site programs.
“Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse” is a film that will be shown Sun., Sept. 7 at 4 p.m. at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
The same day at 5 p.m. at
Barnes & Noble, 189 The Grove Dr., co-author Aron Hirt-Manheimer will discuss his book “Sons of Survivors: Making Peace with Inherited Trauma.” The memoir is about growing up in Los Angeles as the son of Holocaust survivors. “Where They Settled: Holocaust Suvivors in Mexico” is Mon., Sept. 18 at 4 p.m. online. Visit holocaustmuseumla.org.
COACH Nicole àBeckett and a team of girls ages 10 and under in the AYSO All-Stars Region 78 spring tournament.
For high school athletic trainers, it’s not all tape and ice
My son sprained his ankle skateboarding the last weekend of June. He was expected to play volleyball with his club team in Orlando, Florida, eight days later, and if there was any chance of that happening, he needed a hastened rehabilitation. I knew that icing the ankle immediately was crucial, but had no idea how to accelerate the healing process afterwards.
My good friend Jim Reilly was a student athletic trainer for Ohio State’s football team, then later became the head trainer at Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio. He received a master’s degree in athletic administration from the University of Toledo. Central Catholic has won three state titles in football the past five years, and an integral part of that program is Reilly. If there were any speedy methods for rehabilitating my son’s ankle, he would know them.
Tape Caden Chavez will be at-
Flag football, soccer at Pan Pacific Park
The Pan Pacific Park Recreation Center runs flag football and soccer programs for kids on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Sat., Sept. 27, sponsored by the City of Los Angeles Dept. of Recreations and Parks. The cost is $145 for eight weeks and the center is at 7600 Beverly Blvd. Evaluations for each division begin in early September. For the youngest “Mighty Mites” division no evaluation is involved. Payments must be made no later than the first week of the month. Persons with disabilities are welcomed. Visit laparks.org/ reccenter/pan-pacific.
Youth
Sports
by Jim Kalin
tending Fordham University this fall, and plans on studying business. He graduated from Loyola High School last spring, where he played baseball and was a student athletic trainer for the football team.
“I was a member of Loyola’s Sports Medicine Club starting my freshman year,” said Chavez. “It was run by the athletic trainers.”
Chavez was interested in studying the body and how it performed and functioned during athletics. The club focused on injury prevention as well.
“I had a friend who was already in the club, so it seemed like it would be fun.”
Chavez’s favorite sport as a trainer was football. His duties included taping the players before practice and competition and helping on the sidelines during Friday night games.
“The players, trainers, and coaches were fun to be around. I just remember laughing all the time.”
Student athletic trainers aren’t permitted to address injuries, but Chavez did observe the adult trainers as they worked on injured players.
“The trainers would talk to me about it afterwards so I could learn what to do,” said Chavez. “I’ll miss the athletes, and especially the trainers We joked a lot with each other and shared a lot of camaraderie.”
One of those trainers was Tim Moscicki.
Ice
“I’ve been doing this for 36 years,” said Moscicki. “Sports go year-round, so there are no breaks. Athletic trainers can put in 60 to 70 hours of work in a week.”
Tim Moscicki attended Loyola rival St. Frances High School. Unlike Caden Chavez, he wasn’t involved in athletic training as a student.
Carnival to benefit Wilshire LAPD is weekend of Sept. 19-21
By Nona Sue Friedman
Wilshire Division Police Station will transform Venice Boulevard into a carnival starting Fri., Sept. 19 at 5
p.m. The street will be filled with rides, food and entertainment for all ages. The entire community is encouraged to come. Residents can meet their local officers.
Advance tickets to support Wilshire’s youth and Cadet programs, as well as their station fund can be purchased at the station’s front desk at 4861 Venice Blvd. through Thurs., Sept 18. The carnival is open until 11 p.m. on Friday, Sat. and
JOSH GALLAGHER (left), who graduates in 2026, with his friend and former Loyola student, athletic trainer Caden Chavez.
Instead he ran cross country and track and played soccer. It wasn’t until attending Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo that he became interested in athletic training.
“I took a college class, and the rest is history.”
Moscicki has been at Loyola for 28 years and is the head athletic trainer and director
Neighbors
Sun., Sept. 20 and 21 from 2 to 11 p.m.
Please note that Venice Blvd. will be closed in both directions from Rimpau Boulevard to La Brea Avenue starting Wed., Sept. 17 through the end of the festivities.
For questions, contact the station at 213-472-0200.
of student health for the entire student body. He’s the coordinator for the school’s Concussion Program and is responsible for coordinating and communicating with physicians, parents, administrators, teachers and coaches in matters that affect a student’s physical health.
“The list goes on,” he laughed.
Of course Moscicki is a Loyola sports fan, but he also follows NASCAR. He admires the late, great L.A. Dodger athletic trainer Bill Buehler, too.
“I always thought it was cool when Bill Buehler went out to take care of a Dodger,” he said. “Unfortunately, I never met him.”
My son was not healed enough to play in Orlando—his sprain was severe, a syndesmonic injury—but Reilly’s rehabilitation routine amazingly got him off crutches before he travelled to Florida. He was at least able to cheer his team on.
‘Walk with a Cop’
By Julia Guillen Larchmont residents
Marcelo Ziperovich and Clare Sebenius founded SideWalking to combat their loneliness, get outside and meet their neighbors. This month, there are two walks scheduled.
The first, “Walk with a Cop,” is on Mon., Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. Participants can meet with officers from LAPD
Olympic and Wilshire divisions and learn about what’s going on in the city.
The second event is the “Third Wednesday of the Month Walk” on Sept. 17, at 6 p.m. The walk starts and ends at Chevalier’s bookstore, 133 N. Larchmont Blvd.
All walks are free. Visit sidewalking.org for more information.
Van Ness teachers get together at Original Farmers Market
By Nona Sue Friedman
For the past six or seven years, current and former teachers from Van Ness Elementary, most of whom have retired, gather twice a year at the Original Farmers Market.
“It’s the perfect place,” said Bettijane Pike, a retired third-
grade teacher, “because you can grab a table and everyone can eat whatever they want.” She also likes it because it’s in the neighborhood.
The Hospitality Group, as they call themselves, organizes the gatherings every summer and Decem-
ber. Many are invited, and whoever can come joins the get-together. It’s a way to stay connected and a time for the group to catch up on everyone’s families, hear what’s happening at school and reminisce about their workdays together.
VAN NESS TEACHERS gather to celebrate their coworker’s retirement after 38 years. Seated (from left) are America Madrigal, Toiya Collins and Alejandra Mercado. Standing behind (from left) are Barbara Zielinski, Gail Holland, Sean Kearney and Malinda Troy. Standing at right, front row: Susan Levin, Julie Ramos; Back row: Bettijane Pike and Anne Bell.
At the most recent July gathering, they celebrated the retirement of Toiya Collins, who primarily taught fifth grade. She spent the last 28 years of her 38-year teaching career at Van Ness.
Barbara Zielinski, of Windsor Boulevard, started teaching kindergarten at the
LIBRARIES
FAIRFAX
161 S. Gardner St. 323-936-6191
JOHN C. FREMONT 6121 Melrose Ave. 323-962-3521
MEMORIAL
4625 W. Olympic Blvd. 323-938-2732
WILSHIRE
149 N. St. Andrews Pl. 323-957-4550
HOURS
Mon. and Wed., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tue. and Thu., noon to 8 p.m.; Fri. and Sat., 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The library will be closed Mon., Sept. 1.
school in 1989 and retired in 2013. When she would arrive at school, she’d comment, “I live only four blocks away but have already driven 20 miles.” She chauffeured her three kids, who went to high school in Burbank.
Pike, who grew up at Fourth Street and Lorraine Boulevard and now lives in West L.A., spent 20 years as a teacher at Van Ness. She loves the smaller neighborhood school and that it’s integrated with the Frances Blend School, which serves students with physical learning differences, primarily sight.
Real-life Hogwarts celebrates 50 years at the Magic Castle
By Julia Guillen
The Magic Castle’s Academy of Magical Arts (AMA) doesn’t have flying broomsticks, potions or moving staircases (at least, not that
Music Center’s Spotlight program is free and open to high school students
By Nathan Rifkin
The Music Center’s free Spotlight program offers Southern Californian high school students a chance to compete for scholarships and hone their artistry. Entrants of all skill levels are encouraged to apply. Students can apply online and submit video auditions in acting, ballet, dance, instrumental and voice categories. Semifinal-
Empty Nesters
(Continued from Page 9)
every night. Now Olivia and I can say, ‘What do you want to do tonight?’”
Olivia Kazanjian stated, “I’m looking forward to just being together [with Steve] for the first time in 18 years.”
Steve Kazanjian concurs.
“She and I love each other more now than we ever have before. I’m so excited to reconnect with each other as people who are not 25 anymore.”
Embracing spontaneity
Sarah Shun-lien Bynum and husband Leigh Dana Jackson have been empty nesters for two years. Their daughter Willa Jackson is a junior at Yale University. They have adjusted to their new status after a rocky start. “We were in denial,” explains Bynum. Jackson agrees, “For the first year we walked around shell-shocked. By her sophomore year, we started to get in the groove.”
Before their daughter moved out, the Windsor Square family habitually had dinners together. “That immediately evaporated,” admits Jackson. “We text, ‘Want to just do sushi tonight?’ When Willa came home, she looked in the empty refrigerator and asked, ‘Do you guys eat anymore?’”
“We’re more spontaneous,” says Jackson. “I said, ‘Hey do you want to go to Japan in a couple of weeks?’ It was our first solo trip since before we were parents!”
The couple enjoy their time together, but in one aspect they haven’t moved on: Their daughter’s room has not been touched. Jackson laughs, “Her room is preserved in amber, like a mosquito in ‘Jurassic Park’.”
Jackson notes one unanticipated effect of their daughter starting college. “For 18 years I walked through Larchmont and knew every kid. Now when I go to the Sunday farmers’ market, I see families with strollers and bikes. They know all the kids, not us.”
ists may participate in mastery classes, where professional artists will give them feedback. For each category The Music Center will announce two grand prize finalists and honorable mentions. Finalists will perform at the Ahmanson Theatre in May 2026.
This year marks the 38th year of the program, which annually awards more than $100,000 in scholarships. Each contestant can win up to $5,000.
Video tutorials, tips from experts and more resources for applicants are accessible on The Music Center’s Spotlight Academy website.
The deadline to apply is Mon., Oct. 13. Visit musiccenter.org/spotlight.
Grads
(Continued from Page 8)
whether it will be able to continue. Corwin could be one of the last students to receive this prestigious grant.
“I love school. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to ask questions and think about ideas and [school] is a space for that,” commented Eli Weiss of Windsor Square. He recently graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a degree in government.
Weiss is the recipient of a public service fellowship that focuses on leadership in Los Angeles. Starting this month and continuing for the next nine, he will be one of a dozen recent graduates participating in this program.
Weiss will be placed at different organizations throughout his time in the program— government, private sector, nonprofit—to learn about and see leadership in action. “I want to learn what it takes to be a good leader,” said Weiss. “It gives me a chance to talk with and learn from leaders.”
After this program, he’s thinking of going to graduate school and then applying to law school. He truly does love school!
we know of), but it still offers its own kind of magic school through its Junior Society, which just turned 50. Typically, AMA’s clubhouse, the Magic Castle, is not available to anyone under the age of 21. However, the an-
nual Future Stars of Magic Week, which took place last month, invites skilled junior magicians to perform at the invitation-only Magic Castle, located at 7001 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles.
The AMA Junior Society was founded in 1975 for youths between 13 and 20 to learn magic. Today, 81 students are enrolled, hailing from 18 U.S. states and seven countries across the globe.
For more information on the Academy of Magical Arts Junior Society, visit magiccastle.com.
College besties start the morning a new way—with chickpeas
By Julia Guillen
Chickpeas are one of the world’s oldest legumes. But in nearly 10,000 years of cultivation, there has never been a chickpea-based hot cereal until ChiChi.
When Los Angeles native and Marlborough School alumna Chiara Munzi was in college at Washington University in St. Louis, she became frustrated with the lack of simple, healthy breakfast options. She had quickly found that eating oatmeal every morning made her tired later in the
day, which she discovered was because the oats spiked her blood sugar, resulting in sugar crashes.
“I was eating a lot of regular oatmeal, but I would end up just getting hungry an hour after eating it,” Munzi said.
She began experimenting with garbanzo beans in her dorm kitchen, developing what she dubbed “chickpea oatmeal.” She then introduced it to her friend and classmate, Iowa native Izzy Gorton, who was smitten.
“[I] knew we needed to share [chickpea oatmeal] with the world,” Gorton said in their website video.
The two became business partners while still at college. After extensive recipe testing, they perfected the chickpea-based hot cereal. ChiChi is high in protein and fiber and cooks in three minutes.
Munzi and Gorton began selling ChiChi at farmers’ markets and got overwhelmingly positive responses from early customers, including six-time Olympic medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
Two years later, ChiChi is now reaching mass retail in Target stores across Southern California. ChiChi can also be bought online in four flavors: Original, Maple Brown Sugar, Apple Cinnamon and Dark Chocolate.
“Our mission is to disrupt the whole breakfast industry with chickpeas,” Munzi said.
For more information on this breakfast alternative, visit chichifoods.com.
Teens to make tortillas and salsa at La Cocina de Gloria Molina
By Julia Guillen
A cooking class on corn tortillas and salsa will be offered Sat., Sept. 20, for teens ages 13 to 18.
La Cocina de Gloria Molina is a cultural center in downtown L.A. that provides culinary programs for all ages. The teen class runs from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. It teaches teens basic food prep skills and best practices for kitchen
safety.
The class is hosted by guest chef Glenda Galvan Garcia, who has worked in the culinary industry for over 25 years and recently published a cookbook titled “The Whole Enchilada: Mexican Recipes Full of History and Fun.” To sign up, visit tinyurl. com/2weywvn3.
La Cocina de Gloria Molina is at 555 Spring St.
International school celebrates 60 years
By Julia Guillen
Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles is a French college preparatory school that offers a bilingual immersion curriculum from preschool through 12th grade. The school was founded in 1964 by Raymond and Esther Kabbaz, but it was not officially opened until the following year. At the time, schools in California were prohibited from teaching in any language other than English. The couple petitioned to change the code of education, and in August 1965 Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles could finally admit students. The school is still run by the Kabbaz family, with the current principal being Esther and Raymond Kabbaz’s daughter, Clara-Lisa Kabbaz.
educational environment.
While attending Le Lycée, students are immersed in French language and culture and have the opportunity to take courses in Latin, Greek, Mandarin, Spanish and German. The school also offers 27 advanced placement classes, extensive libraries for research and studying, labs for science and technology and areas for physical education. Graduating students earn both a U.S. high school diploma and a French baccalaureate.
Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles has five campuses across West Los Angeles and Pacific Palisades. The main campus is located at 3261 Overland Ave.
This year marks the school’s 60th anniversary. Since the school’s founding, it has expanded to encompass students of over 50 nationalities, fostering a multicultural
“We are blessed watching our students grow from preschoolers into knowledgeable, talented and dedicated high school graduates who are motivated…to go out into the world and achieve greatness,” said Principal Clara-Lisa Kabbaz.
CHICHI FOUNDERS Chiara Munzi (left) and Izzy Gorton.
A BOWL of ChiChi with fruit.
Fair to return Oct. 26 with rides, costume contest and a tribute
By Suzan Filipek
Larchmont Family Fair returns for its 60th year with rides and fun for all ages on Sun., Oct. 26 on Larchmont Boulevard. The Boulevard will be closed to traffic between Beverly Boulevard and First Street.
The street fair will feature a children’s costume contest, rides, live music and cuisine from around the world. Booths will be set up by schools, churches and nonprofits.
Jane Gilman, co-founder of the fair, (and co-founder of the Larchmont Chronicle), will be honored.
“Let’s celebrate her for being a catalyst for starting all of this,” said Romi Cortier, president of the Larchmont Boulevard Association (LBA), sponsor of the fair.
Cortier is asking friends and neighbors to share sto-
IMMACULATE HEART
Madison Dang
11th Grade
ries of themselves and their families in regards to the fair as part of a tribute to Gilman to take place at the fair. To be included, reach out to Cortier at romicortier@yahoo.com.
“With an estimated 10,000 visitors, the Larchmont Family Fair is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness and funds for your organization.”
Also planned is a photo booth near Tailwaggers. Beer, wine and wine spritzers will be poured at a bar outside La Bettola di Terroni restaurant.
The Larchmont Village Farmers’ Market will be open in its usual spot in the Village park-
ing lot, fair organizer Melissa Farwell said.
Businesses, schools and groups from both down the street to far and wide can apply to have a booth at the fair.
“The more the merrier,” said Larchmont Boulevard Association board member Edie Frère.
Nonprofit groups are invited to “rent a booth” and can keep all proceeds for their charitable organization, school, church or synagogue.
“With an estimated 10,000 visitors, the Larchmont Family Fair is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness and funds for your organization,” Frère said.
The LBA charges a booth fee of $500 to cover the cost of rentals, advertising, promotion, insurance and decorations. LBA members pay $300.
In addition, selling or offer-
ing any sort of food or drinks, even bottled water, requires a health department permit.
“Most of those taking booths don’t offer food or drinks, since there is lots of food at the fair, but some have special things that they have always done, like snow cones or cotton candy,” Frère said.
She recommends that booth holders offer fun takeaways to attract passersby.
In the past, one school made animal balloons, another—a spa—soothed fairgoers’ muscles with mini massages.
Proceeds from the fair help pay for the costs of security and beautification of the Boulevard.
The deadline to apply for nonprofit booths that require a health permit is Mon., Sept. 15. The deadline for all other booths is Wed., Oct. 15. To inquire about school or non-
make friends
profit booths, email Frère at info@landisstationery.com.
To inquire about having a food booth, reach out to Farwell at larchmontboulevardfamilyfair@gmail.com.
The Fair has been a staple of the area since it began as a small-town event in the mid 60s.
Summer has come and gone, and Immaculate Heart Pandas are back on campus, ready to take on new challenges. Events like our Back-to-School barbecue, presented by the Athletics Department, celebrated the start of the school year with delicious food and fun games. Students have begun preparing for our annual Welcome Day tradition and will wear themed costumes Fri., Sept. 5 as they welcome new students and faculty through songs, dances and skits. Yet another event to look forward to this month is Immaculate Heart’s Open House on Sat., Sept. 28, when prospective students can learn more about our school. Overall, it’s a joy to be back on campus with the rest of the Immaculate Heart school community!
LARCHMONT CHARTER
LAFAYETTE PARK
Ella Wolovitch
10th Grade
As the school bell rang for the beginning of the first day of school, the air buzzed with excitement and nerves. Students walked around the campus, reuniting with old friends and meeting new people as well. Seniors began their bittersweet “last first day” and freshmen walked into a whole new school experience. Anticipation for the year grew as teachers went through their first day activities, laying out expectations for the school year. Looking forward to a fun year full of learning at LFP!
GIANT BEAR AND DINO
at last year’s Larchmont Family Fair.
When will an American man reclaim Grand Slam glory?
Jimmy Connors. Arthur Ashe. John McEnroe. Michael Chang. Jim Courier. Pete Sampras. Andre Agassi. Faucet slows to a drip…Andy Roddick…faucet stops. That’s a heck of a list. Some of those names are all-time greats; some of them dominated the sport on and off the courts. They starred in commercials. They were must watch.
But it’s been 22 years. Twenty-two years since an American man claimed a title in a Grand Slam tennis event. It’s hard to fathom, and it’s by far the longest stretch of time since we started hitting green, fuzzy balls over a net that an American male failed to grab one of the big ones.
Tennis is an utterly international sport, which is part of what makes it great, but the history of the sport can’t be told without the American men who etched their names in infamy. Connors electrified us. Ashe broke barriers. McEnroe questioned if the umps were serious, as well as everything else they did. Chang surprised in Roland Garros. Sampras barely cracked a smile en route to
Letters
(Continued from Page 2)
You and your colleagues must realize that the goal of SB 79’s supporters is to strip local zoning protections and to open up vast areas of low-density neighborhoods to high-profit real estate development.
Our City of Los Angeles already has completed a massive, collaborative planning process, where we now have state-certified Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) goals, so we can build the needed housing, much of
Chasing Sports by Chase Campen
14 major wins. Agassi played with pizzazz; the ultimate pitchman, who married a legend from the ladies’ bracket in Steffi Graf.
Twenty-two years ago, at the ripe age of 21, American Andy Roddick took Queens, New York, by storm, capturing the US Open title and becoming king of the sport. Charismatic and young, surely he’d carry the mantle of the next great American male tennis player and claim several more.
Instead, he’d go on to appear in four more Grand Slam finals, losing all of them to Roger Federer.
There’s no shame in that— Federer is in the conversation of being the game’s greatest player in history, as are two men whose careers coincided with his, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Federer and Nadal, the handsome and charismatic Europeans, combined for an absurd 42 major titles between 2003 through 2022. Overlapping in that
it on commercial corridors adjacent to public transit. There is no need to break up single-family blocks to create new housing. On behalf of the thousands of residents in our 1,100 homes, the Windsor Square Association joins so many others in requesting that you and your committee support California families and vote No on SB 79, a bill sponsored by special interests for their sole benefit.
John H. Welborne Vice President for Planning and Land Use Windsor Square Association
window was the robotic and controversial Djokovic (I’m a fan), claiming 24 major wins of his own. So it’s not hard to see who has been winning all those majors over the past two decades. And yet, the Americans couldn’t grab even one?!
For me, the major drought for American men coincides with my watching less of the sport. Not that there isn’t great talent all over the world worth following, but for me tennis is similar to soccer—it spikes my interest when the American men perform well. Those names mentioned in the first paragraph are mostly icons of the sport; by comparison, the last 22 years have been the decades of darkness. Interestingly, and if you’ve made it this far in this article you probably realize in that same 22-year window, American women have grabbed 26 Grand Slam titles! And there’s been plenty happening on that side of the bracket to catch your attention, including the entirety of the Williams sisters’ careers. They combined to win 22 of them (19 for Serena, 3 for
In favor of high-rises I was sad to see that the Larchmont United Neighborhood Association (LUNA) and the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council are opposed to the multistory buildings proposed for the northern half of the Larchmont Boulevard commercial district. Sad and a bit confused as to what harm the buildings would do to the neighborhood. The proposed buildings are six and seven story buildings.
The new buildings will add housing to the neighborhood, bringing many new business owners, employees
Photo by Filip Mroz
Venus) during an incredibly dominant run. And there have been other great American female players during that stretch, including Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport and Coco Gauff today.
The top American male threats right now are Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, each of whom have knocked on a Major championship door in the past few years. Tiafoe has twice reached the semifinals of the US Open. Shelton has been a semifinalist at the US and Australian opens, and Fritz has pulled off the feat at Wimbledon and the US Open.
Do any of these guys have a shot in Queens this month? Tiafoe seems to thrive there, and Shelton is increasingly a fan favorite with his chiseled arms and charismatic persona. But if you have to hang your hat on an American ending that 22-year drought, go with Fritz. He reached the final four at Wimbledon this year, is the game’s best server right now and rides a wave of momentum to the US Open. The American male drought has to end at some point, right?
The 2025 US Open in Queens, New York, continues through Sun., Sept. 7.
But when will an American male player reclaim tennis glory in a Major? The roadblock today is similar to the past 22 years: there are two extremely talented European players at the top of the mens’ draw right now—Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcatraz. Like the Big Three before them, they look like generational talents.
and families. And, perhaps, dramatically increasing foot traffic to all the shops, restaurants and businesses in the area. Maybe they will add a day to the farmers market. I have four children, three of whom have graduated college and are just getting started in their careers. None of them could afford to live in my neighborhood at this point.
Opponents of the new buildings seem to claim that taller buildings harm the community. If that were the case, the Larchmont Medical Building, being 10 stories tall, should have killed the neigh-
borhood back in 1961 when it was built. It now houses dozens of medical professionals all working and supporting the neighborhood with their services and spending. There are more than 50 businesses on Larchmont Boulevard. Each one of them relies on the vibrancy of the community to survive and thrive. Cutting the stories of the buildings forecloses the possibility of many dozens of families that could live, work and support the neighborhood. How many of the business owners on Larchmont can afford to (Please turn to Page 26)
U.S. MEN’S TENNIS FANS feel the absence of a Grand Slam victory.
Trees
(Continued from Page 1)
And, they have.
When complete, the Wilshire Boulevard and surrounding area will be an assorted mix of 200 palms and shade trees that will line the medians and sidewalks of Miracle Mile in time for Metro’s D Line Extension project.
This portion of the D Line subway, from Wilshire/Western to Wilshire/La Cienega, is slated to open later this year.
“It’s going to look really beautiful when all of the street improvements and landscaping are finished,” said Metro spokesman Dave Sotero.
A decade ago, when 83 palm trees were removed from the Mile, the median strips and sidewalks were torn up as part of subway construction.
Now crews are at work sprucing up the area to its former glory under the guidance of Metro contractor Skanska Traylor-Shea.
The additional trees are thanks to a 2022 sustainable tree replacement policy, Sotero said.
The chosen trees include London planes, silk flosses and fir pines, as well as the tall palms.
The return of the trees is a welcome sight after decades of planning and construction. While the newly planted trees are the fulfillment of a promise, they are not without controversy.
The tall, stately palms have become iconic to the city, but they are not from here. They were originally brought by
missionaries for religious reasons and more were planted by the thousands in the early 1900s (“Prepare to ay a frond farewell to Los Angeles’ palm trees,” L.A. Times, Pat Morrison, Aug. 10, 2025).
Critics argue the palms do not address climate change or bring much-needed shade to a warmer environment.
The London planes are also problematic, and none of the trees are native, according to Ann Rubin, of Carthay Circle, who calls the new landscape plan “a missed opportunity.”
In a letter to the Metro board, she wrote:
“For years, our local group, comprised of engaged neighbors with professional expertise in plants and horticulture, landscape design and climate change, along with members of the city’s Community Forestry Advisory Committee, have been advocating for a coordinated street tree plan along Wilshire Blvd. and tributaries…
“Better tree choices would be California natives and species that improve our ecology, are in sync with our wet and dry seasons and tell a distinct story connected to this location. Inspiration could have come from the many trees in the La Brea Tar Pits location. Even Metro’s own policies include the preference for native trees and working together with the community!
“Instead, we got London planes…We already have several near the Peterson Museum and Academy Museum—and these trees look
Bogie’s
sickly and scrawny. They are deciduous, so we miss the shade for many months, but even when leafed out, they look unhealthy.”
Still hopeful
After years of construction, she adds, “We’ve been holding out with hope, not expecting the status quo and what feels like disregard, frankly, for what happens to also be our neighborhood streets where we live…
“We still have the whole of the First/Last Mile pathway network [where pedestrians travel to and from stations] in need of the right shade trees that will define this area—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and possibly for the next 100 years. We ask to meet and work together with Metro, the Urban Forestry Division and our council office to go in a new direction, even at this eleventh hour.”
Metro claims 60% of the new plantings are shade trees and address issues of heat islands and other concerns, Sotero said.
They were chosen as part of a landscape plan during the Environmental Impact Review period, during which time public comment was heard. The plan was approved by the city in 2017 and is within the city’s regional acceptable tree palette, Sotero said.
Metro has agreed to care for the trees for three years, after which time the city will take over responsibility for those on city property.
Art Deco signs
Up next, Art Deco decora-
tive signs will be placed at each end of the Miracle Mile district. These replace earlier signs which were removed years ago. Those had been in the median strips and were hit by cars.
The new signs will be placed on the sidewalk in between the three subway entrances at La Brea and Fairfax avenues and La Cienega Boulevard.
The subway extension project will extend the D Line from Wilshire/Western to the Westwood VA hospital station. It will include seven new stations.
The second segment, extending to Wilshire/Constellation, which includes
the Wilshire Rodeo subway station, is scheduled to open in 2026. Section three, including the Westwood/UCLA Station and Westwood/VA Hospital Station, is scheduled to open in 2027, ahead of the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028.
When complete, the D Line will provide a connection between downtown L.A. and the Westside.
The cost to build all three sections is in the neighborhood of $9.5 billion, paid for by county sales tax (approved by Measures R and M) and matching federal funds, Sotero said.
Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association
“The objective and purpose of the LVNA has, since 1987, been the preservation and enhancement of our neighborhood.”
As you read this back to school has happened, the late summer Los Angeles heat is broiling and there have been major developments that can help or hurt our neighborhood.
First the good news – there has been further progress on single stairwell zoning. The full Los Angeles City Council has directed city staff to draft an ordinance to legalize 4-6 story single stair buildings (which are currently not allowed in L.A.). Worldwide this approach has made Larchmont Village type housing and live/work buildings viable while maintaining high fire safety standards. If we can combine this approach with diagonal median parking on North Larchmont, we will go a long way towards securing a bright future for our neighborhood.
The LVNA supports the Livable Communities attempt to reform outdated multifamily zoning regulations which stand in the way of both effective housing and neighborhood friendly streetscapes. For over 15 years we have fought to make North Larchmont Boulevard a live/work, walkable zone consistent with the demonstrable success which is lower Larchmont. If we can enhance the viability of smaller, appropriate buildings, encourage better urban design (which echoes the existing Larchmont Village area) AND calm traffic we must do everything we can to make that happen.
Now, the not great news… SB 79 has moved forward.
SB 79 would allow 5- to 7-story buildings on any lot within a half mile of a bus stop along a route that has a dedicated bus lane at any point. This potentially would put up to 95% of Larchmont, and most, if not all, of Windsor Square and Hancock Park at risk - destroying the very qualities which make these the neighborhoods we love. There are no exclusions for single-family, multi-family, or historic neighborhoods, and no requirements for infrastructure improvements or supportive transit planning. The State of California has embarked on a disastrous path of usurping local control which threatens to upend development of the very housing they claim to want.
Please reach out to your state assembly member, State Senator and Governor Newsom to voice your opposition to this bill!
Check out unitedneighbors.net for latest updates.
Need to figure out who represents you? There’s a great tool at https://www.laforward.org/who-represents-me.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!
Are you a senior, or do you have physical challenges getting around LA?
Please join us for a joint program with the LA Department of Transportation called “Seniors On the Move.”
We will be presenting a 45-minute Zoom program on Saturday, September 27 at 10 AM. Come learn about the terrific initiatives currently available!
RSVP to lvna90004@gmail.com . We will email you a Zoom link for confirmation.
In Larchmont Village there are always new ideas and new opportunities to further enhance our quality of life. If you have an idea or project on which you’re looking for support, we’ll get you with a member who’s got exactly the right combination of interest and knowledge to help you get it off the ground. 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
Serving the Larchmont community between Beverly and Melrose, Arden to Wilton Place lvna.info • lvna90004@gmail.com
LONDON PLANE trees were planted on Orange Drive, left, as well as on Sycamore Avenue, right, near Wilshire Boulevard in Miracle Mile.
Preparing
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is a disaster.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sponsors citizen awareness in September and reminds us of the three C’s to consider: first “check” by assessing the disaster situation to make sure you and the victim are safe (from moving cars, fallen power lines, etc.). Next, “call” emergency assistance at 911. And finally “care” by providing CPR if necessary. In addition, have a location all family members know to meet at and an out-of-state contact to help coordinate communication.
The problem is, in a large disaster, first responders are often overwhelmed, and we as individuals and neighbors need to know what do when calling 911 is useless.
Kari Garcia of the Miracle Mile Residential Association rallied her community by getting neighbors to get Com-
EXPERT SURVIVALIST
munity Emergency Response Training and take Ready Your LA courses, both provided free through the Los Angeles Fire Department and open to all. Other than getting to know your neighbors and understanding their individual skills which may be useful for an emergency, one learns first aid skills, the location of utility shutoffs and which neighbors might need extra help.
Garcia also suggests downloading the My Shake app which will give a five-second warning for earthquakes that are a magnitude of 4.5 or higher, and to watch a video on how to shut off the gas valve for your home or building (YouTube is a good place to start).
More disasters are caused by fires due to broken gas lines then almost anything else after a major earthquake.
City and community efforts matter, but so do the measures you can take in your own home. Most of us were here for the January 2025 wildfires, and some of us for the 1994 Northridge earthquake.
Make “go bags,” or “survival stashes” for daily needs.
FEMA suggests a minimum of these items: bedside—flashlight, shoes and eye glasses. In the car: walking shoes, water and food (like protein bars), jacket, sun hat, flashlight, cell phone charger and first aid kit (imagine if the 1994 quake had hit midday).
For the home, add medications, cash, pet food, radio, important documents, a tool to turn off gas valve and a fire extinguisher. Check ready.la-
SEPTEMBER IS THE MONTH TO PREPARE for basic needs in case of
county.gov for more.
Geoff Randolph who grew up in South Pasadena, was an engineer and sales executive in Silicon Valley and a pioneer in remote work in 1999 (powering his HughesNet satellite modem and laptop with a car battery). He chose to spend many years in a way most survivalists fantasize about. “I have a different perspective, having lived in the wilderness for a while. I lived with my wife and kids in Trinity County in Northern California on 110 acres surrounded by national forest on all sides. There were about 200 people in a 15-mile radius, and we were the last house on a dirt road. We were one of the few who had electricity, which regularly went out—everyone else was off the grid. We lived off a gravity-fed spring and only kept the electricity for refrigeration and lighting. All heat was wood heat. I personally split by hand five or six cords of firewood every year for the five stoves we had,”
gas (stove/oven). Randolph said, “All of a sudden you realize a propane cooker might be a good idea.”
said Randolph.
Currently, living in southern Oregon, Randolph is the go-to expert for many preppers around the country.
Randolph said, “There are practical things all people can do to prepare for any sort of disaster. Have a weekend where you turn off your electricity, and it’ll show you right off the bat everything you rely on is so dependent on that. This is one simple thing. If electricity went out for a week, what would you do? In a practical way, you can plan this ahead of time so that you don’t waste the food in your refrigerator. The first thing you’ll learn is how important light is. You need a flashlight and possibly a back-up source of power. Also very useful is a lead light to wear on the head like a headband. Electric lanterns are helpful.”
The best way to have a back-up source of power, according to Randolph, is a fold out solar cell with lithium ion batteries. “With something like that, at least one can run a fluorescent light bulb, cell phone, computer, even a coffee grinder,” said Randolph. Called a power pack or a portable power station, the module is the size of a shoebox. And on that weekend, don’t use the
Randolph also said, “At one point you have to consider if it’s a longer term issue, or a shorter term issue. In both cases having water and a way to purify it is a priority.” He said, “The old-timers would create basic filters out of charcoal and ash, but there’s so many things now that you can buy to substitute. Use stored water, or you will need to keep with you an emergency filter, which there are all sorts of out there.”
Longer term—how to protect what you have and survive working with other people is a hard, but an important factor to consider. Randolph said, “People can see light from far away and they’re going to come to it if they don’t have power. Maybe you want to control how many people see it by having blackout windows. In the long-term, it’s important to have things you can barter like small bottles of alcohol. And don’t forget duct tape. Everyone needs duct tape!” And just to really close this deep dive out…”If you live in L.A. you need iodine pills (such as potassium iodide and KI tablets) because L.A., is close enough to the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant and therefore prone for disaster,” said Randolph. You can ask your doctor how to take iodine pills safely to protect yourself. “My final words are, be right with God! And don’t be in a big city! Get out,” Randolph said with a chuckle. For those of us who are here, we’ll help each other. And the best part about prepping? Once you do it, you can forget about it and sleep more soundly!
Find more information at www.ready.gov.
GEOFF RANDOLPH with his wife, Robyn, advises practicing spending a weekend without electricity.
disaster.
A history of immigration in Los Angeles from early colonists
By A.R. Johnstone
Los Angeles is one of the most diverse cities in the world—a cultural mosaic shaped over centuries by immigrants from around the globe. From Spanish colonists in the 18th century to contemporary migrants from Central America, the city’s story is inseparable from immigration, both legal and undocumented. By the 1920s, Los Angeles had grown into a multicultural center. Despite periods of exclusion and internment (including the forced removal of Japanese Americans during WWII) immigrant communities continued to thrive and reshape the urban landscape.
“Today, Los Angeles County is home to nearly 880,000 undocumented immigrants, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.”
Illegal immigration has played a prominent role in Los Angeles since the 1960s. In 1965, amendments were made to the Immigration and
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live in the neighborhood?
The issue of the stories is also confusing as there does not seem to be any objective reason for the current limit beyond tradition. And, clearly, the tradition includes huge buildings like the Larchmont Medical Building. Larchmont residents should welcome the arrival of new residents. New residents mean a bigger and better farmers market, more restaurants, more services and opportunities for everyone to live and work. We all know the city is facing a crisis in sup-
Nationality Act. The changes eliminated the quota system (quotas only allowed a certain number of immigrants from countries other than the western hemisphere) many felt quotas were discriminatory, however, prior to these changes, countries in the western hemisphere did not have any quotas. The consequence was countries that were previously not limited now had a numerical value put on how many immigrants
ply of housing, affordable or otherwise. Let’s resolve to be part of the solution to this urgent problem. Please consider making the neighborhood more inclusive rather than exclusive. One Rodeo Drive is enough for any city.
James Standish Windsor Square
Editor’s note: The Larchmont Medical Building has a total of 84 parking spaces according to LoopNet. The new projects referred to in the letter are fast-tracked under the mayor’s emergency housing program, which does not require buildings to have parking.
could receive visas. With rising demand for low-wage labor, many migrants entered the U.S. without authorization or overstayed their visas. Today, Los Angeles County is home to nearly 880,000 undocumented immigrants, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.
Undocumented immigrants contribute significantly to the local economy, filling essential roles in construction, hospitality, food service and care-giving. However, their presence also presents challenges for public services, infrastructure and policy.
One of the primary concerns often cited is the strain on public resources. Although undocumented immigrants pay taxes—sales, property (indirectly through rent) and often payroll taxes under false or borrowed Social Security numbers—they are ineligible
for most federal benefits. Still, local governments often provide emergency health care, schooling and other services without full reimbursement, which can place pressure on budgets.
Public education is another area where the impact is debated. The U.S. Supreme Court’s Plyler v. Doe decision (1982) ensures free public education for all children regardless of status. In some school districts with high concentrations of undocumented families, this has led to overcrowding and challenges in delivering services such as bilingual instruction and counseling.
Opponents of sanctuary policies also argue that shielding undocumented immigrants from federal immigration enforcement can undermine public safety. While studies by the American Immigration Council and Cato Institute suggest undocumented immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than citizens, high-profile cases involving violent offenders have sparked public concern and political controversy.
Additionally, undocumented labor may depress wages in low-skill sectors, affecting U.S. citizens and legal residents competing for the same jobs—particularly in industries like agriculture and construction.
Despite these challenges, Los Angeles has maintained policies supporting immi-
grant integration. The city reaffirmed its status as a sanctuary city in 2017, resisting efforts by federal agencies to compel local law enforcement cooperation with ICE.
Community groups like the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights have worked to connect undocumented immigrants with legal aid, education and labor protections. Faith-based organizations and local nonprofits also fill gaps left by federal restrictions.
Immigration, in all its complexity, remains a defining force in Los Angeles. The city’s cultural vibrancy, labor force and population growth have long depended on immigrant contributions. At the same time, its leaders continue to grapple with the policy, economic and ethical questions that come with large-scale undocumented migration.
CALIFORNIA CONTINUES to support immigration, and Los Angeles remains a sanctuary city.
Photo by Nicole Cavelli
EARLY IMMIGRANTS to the United States.
Photo: Art Institute of Chicago
Mansion tax
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million will go toward helping people stay in their homes— things like rent support for tenants at risk of eviction and free legal help if they’re facing it. The lion’s share, roughly $288 million, will be used to build or preserve affordable housing.
At a time when other funding sources are shrinking, this cash is keeping a lot of important programs alive. Supporters say the measure is doing exactly what voters wanted: providing stable, ongoing funding to tackle L.A.’s housing crisis.
But here’s the catch
The name “mansion tax” makes it sound like it only applies to palatial estates in the Hollywood Hills. In reality, it hits a lot more than that. It applies to small apartment buildings, commercial properties and even older medical or office buildings in the $5 million–plus range.
And that’s where the trouble starts.
CD13
Studies from UCLA and RAND show that since ULA took effect, the number of sales above the $5 million threshold has dropped by about half. Commercial and multifamily sales—the kinds that often lead to new housing or revitalized spaces—are down by 30 to 50%.
When high-value properties stop changing hands, two big things happen: first, fewer new homes get built. Developers often buy older buildings, renovate or replace them, and then sell. If they get taxed heavily at both the buying and selling stage, many simply skip the project. That means fewer new units, including affordable ones.
Second,property tax revenue stalls. In California, property taxes mostly go up when a property sells. High-value sales make up only 4% of transactions but account for over 40% of new tax revenue. Without those sales, schools, public safety and city services feel the pinch.
Why this matters in
Hancock Park
Even if you’re not planning to sell a $6 million home anytime soon, the ripple effects can hit close to home. Hancock Park and its surroundings have plenty of properties that fall above that threshold—from historic mansions to small apartment buildings tucked along side streets.
When those properties don’t sell, the market tightens. Fewer listings means fewer chances for new buyers to get in, and fewer redevelopment projects result in fewer rental options. It’s one reason home prices across the board can creep up—even for homes well below $5 million.
A cliff, not a slope
One of the quirks of ULA is how it’s structured. The moment a sale price crosses $5 million—even by a dollar— the full tax kicks in on the entire amount. That’s why you’ll see some listings carefully priced just under the line. It’s also why owners who might otherwise sell sometimes decide to hold on, rent
allocates $500,000 more
By Nona Sue Friedman Councilmember Hugo Soto
Martínez of Council
District
13 (CD13) recently received approval to allocate $500,000 from his discretionary fund for workers’ overtime compensation at the Bureau of Street Lighting (BSL).The funds are part of an effort to repair streetlight outages within his district. BSL is understaffed and has many repair requests, which is led to residents having to wait up
to nine months for streetlight repairs.
According to Soto Martínez, “We know that working streetlights are one of the most effective ways that we can make our streets safer for everyone …. That’s why we are investing …. so we can make critical repairs to streetlights all over the district.”
Since taking office in December 2022, his office has allotted a total of $900,000 to speed up BSL’s ability to make
quire state action, but they could keep the money flowing while reducing the drag on property turnover and housing production.
Where we go from here
This area has seen plenty of changes over the decades, and ULA is just another chapter in the city’s ongoing push and pull between funding public needs and keeping the real estate market healthy.
out or just wait.
Possible fixes
Policy experts have tossed around a few ways to keep the funding but cut down the side effects. One is to make it a true mansion tax by applying it only to single-family homes above the threshold.
Another is to use marginal rates so only the amount above $5 million is taxed, rather than the entire sale price.
And lastly, adjust the tax to target windfall profits instead of taxing sales where the owner might actually be taking a loss.
These changes would re-
Right now, ULA is delivering big dollars for affordable housing and homelessness prevention. But it’s also slowing down the kind of sales that help build new housing, boost tax revenue and keep neighborhoods vibrant.
The challenge ahead is finding the sweet spot—one where we still fund the programs we desperately need, without choking off the property turnover that fuels the city’s growth. If Los Angeles can get that balance right, neighborhoods like Hancock Park can keep their historic charm while still playing a role in solving the city’s housing crisis.
overtime to repair streetlights
repairs. Lighting outages make for one of the top three concerns CD13 hears about from residents.
The additional funding is good news for Windsor Square and numerous other neighborhoods who are still plagued with dark streets primarily from copper wire theft. However, it remains to be seen if the work will actually be done. Simply allocating the money doesn’t mean we have the workers to complete it.
MEASURE ULA, THE “MANSION TAX” needs to find a balance so the city can continue to prosper in all directions.
BASE OF A STREETLIGHT that has been tampered with in Windsor Square.
INTACT JUNCTION box at Van Ness Avenue and First Street, yet many of the lights on Van Ness aren’t working.
