Brentwood Man Convicted of Stalking New Jersey Judge with Threatening Emails
Resident Found
Guilty of MonthsLong Campaign of Harassment
Brentwood resident Jonathan Lipman, 36, was convicted Thursday of a federal felony for stalking a New Jersey state court judge through a sustained campaign of threats and harassment, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Lipman was found guilty of one count of stalking after a three-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. He has remained in federal custody since his arrest in September 2023 and now faces up to five years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for October 3 before U.S. District Judge Fernando L. AenlleRocha.
Between February and September 2023, Lipman sent dozens of threatening emails to the victim, an acting Superior Court judge in New Jersey, with the intent to harass, intimidate, and instill fear, prosecutors said. The threats grew more graphic over time, despite a prior warning from law enforcement advising him to cease the behavior.
In addition to the emails, Lipman located the judge’s home address, contacted a neighbor to spread fear, and left multiple voicemails at the courthouse directed at the victim. In July 2023, he escalated the threats by sending explicit messages that described violent fantasies involving the judge’s death.
The FBI conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clifford D. Mpare of the General Crimes Section and Daniel H. Weiner of the Transnational Organized Crime Section.
Caltrans Schedules Public Meeting for $143.7 Million I-405 Rehabilitation Project
Virtual Forum Set to Brief Residents on Upcoming Construction
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will hold a virtual public information meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10, to present details on the upcoming Interstate 405 Pavement Rehabilitation Project, a $143.7 million initiative aimed at improving a major commuter corridor through Los Angeles.
Set to begin construction in spring or summer of 2025, the project will span from Victory Boulevard in Van Nuys to Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood and continue through winter 2028–2029. The rehabilitation work will cover approximately 92 lane miles of pavement along the I-405, including full replacement of two lanes in each direction between Victory Boulevard and Mulholland Drive, and targeted repairs in other areas within the project limits.
In addition to pavement improvements, the project includes a series of
infrastructure upgrades designed to enhance safety, accessibility, and longterm durability. These include:
• Replacement of bridge approach and departure slabs at six locations
• Restoration or replacement of 10 drainage culverts
• Upgrades to 10 curb ramps to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards
• Replacement of 6,400 feet of metal beam guardrail (MBGR) to meet modern safety standards
• Installation of 98 new retroreflective sign panels and two overhead sign structures
• Construction of four new maintenance vehicle pullouts for worker safety
• Upgrades to 2.5 miles of fiber communications conduit and replacement of fiber-optic cables
The project targets improved safety, ride quality, and traffic flow along one of the region’s most critical freeway segments, which connects the San Fernando Valley to Los Angeles International Airport and the South Bay.
The June 10 virtual meeting will include a formal presentation and an opportunity for public questions.
Interested participants can register online at Caltrans WebEx Registration. For ongoing updates, the public is encouraged to sign up at Caltrans Notification Form.
Caltrans advises nearby residents and businesses to expect potential
construction impacts such as noise, vibration, and dust. Schedules may be adjusted due to weather or operational factors. Motorists can check live traffic updates at Quickmap.dot.ca.gov.
Our neurosurgery virtuoso is now offering consultations in West LA.
As a professor and the associate chair of neurosurgical innovation at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, Dr. Cohen is often consulted for his second opinion by patients and other neurosurgeons alike. His experience is unparalleled as he has performed over 7,000 complex brain surgeries. His pioneering expertise and compassion is now closer than ever, in West LA.
Aaron Cohen-Gadol MD, MSc, MBA
Brentwood Weekly Crime Report: May 18, 2025 – May 24, 2025
String of Burglaries Hits Brentwood; Businesses Among Targets
By Matthew Kirk
Brentwood has had a rash of commercial burglaries this week, with four businesses being targeted by a group of unidentified suspects on 26th Street. Most of the six crimes that occurred in the area were burglaries either from a home, a business, or a vehicle.
Burglary:
(Commercial) 05-22-25 03:30 Hrs, 200 Block of 26th St, 6 suspects pried open the door of the business. Once inside, the suspects smashed glass displays and removed jewelry. Suspects fled in a black Sprinter van.
(Commercial) 05-22-25 03:35 Hrs. 200 Block of 26th St, suspects pried open the front door of the business and removed property. The property taken was numerous pairs of sunglasses.
(Commercial) 05-22-25 20:00 Hrs, 11900 Block of San Vicente, suspects pried open the front door of the business and removed property. The property taken was photographic equipment, a cell phone, and tablets.
(Commercial) 05-23-25 01:20 Hrs, 11900 Block of San Vicente, Suspects pried open the business door and removed property. The property taken was numerous computers and laptops.
05-24-25 1920 Hrs – 21:05 Hrs, 1100 Block of N. Bundy Drive, suspect(s) forced open the door to residents and removed property. Property taken was jewelry, U.S. currency, and a safe.
Robbery:
None Reported
ADW (Assault With Deadly Weapon) None Reported
BFMV (Burglary from motor vehicle)/ TFMV (Theft from Motor Vehicle)
05-19-25 0800 Hrs / 05-23-25 13:00 Hrs, 11600 Block of Montana Ave, suspect(s) removed license plates from a vehicle parked on the city street.
GTA (Grand Theft Auto
None Reported
Theft: None Reported
Getty Center Extends Hours and Launches Summer Lineup With Music, Pride Exhibits
Museum Gets a Vibrant Summer Makeover With LGBTQ+ Exhibits, and Live Music
Beginning June 17, 2025, the Getty Center will introduce new extended hours, giving visitors more time to explore exhibitions, attend events, and enjoy the campus well into the evening. The updated schedule marks a significant expansion in public access and coincides with the museum’s summer programs and Pride Month celebrations.
Under the new schedule, the Getty
• Emile Mosseri on August 23
Advance ticket reservations for each concert will be available through the Getty’s website.
Alongside its musical offerings, the Getty will spotlight LGBTQ+ artists and stories throughout June. The exhibitions $3 Bill: Evidence of Queer Lives opens June 10, followed by Queer Lens: A History of Photography on June 17. Related events will include film screenings and art talks, all listed on Getty’s public calendar.
The Pride Pop-up Shop, opening June 3 in the Entrance Hall, will offer rainbowthemed merchandise celebrating LGBTQ+ visibility and self-expression. Products will also be available online starting June 2, featuring Getty’s newly designed Pride logo.
In addition to its Pride programming, the Getty Center will unveil several major exhibitions throughout the summer:
• Symbols and Signs: Decoding Medieval Manuscripts opens May 20
• Artemisia’s Strong Women: Rescuing a Masterpiece opens June 10
• Lines of Connection: Drawing and Printmaking opens July 1
Six Students Deserving of Brentwood’s Applause
The Brentwood Community Council just made its annual Student Achievement Awards. Honoring six high school students who go either to Palisades Charter High School, Archer School for Girls, University High, or Brentwood School.
One of Brentwood’s early members of the BCC board was Loretta Ditlow, now long
Ocean Silkman of Pali High is quite the entrepreneur. His auto detailing business netted a profit of $76,000 last year. He started Build Back Pali, a business-focused organization helping Palisades businesses recover. His group raised $100,000.
Oona Seppala goes to Archer School for Girls. She started an organization, “Rhythm for Residents,” which connects student musicians with the elderly, who very much enjoy the music. Rhythm for Residents wants to help bring about a reduction in loneliness, which many say is an epidemic. Oona is the
gone. It was her idea to start this annual tradition 21 years ago. Loretta, you are missed but not forgotten!
This year’s award ceremony, held May 14, was especially impacted by the Palisades Fire, which closed down Pali High.
Many of Pali High’s students – 40% of whom lost their homes – are now attending classes at the old Sears Building, in Santa Monica. The new location is referred to as “Pali South.” What a great way to repurpose this empty building! And it all came together so quickly. Bravo to all involved!
So let’s start with the Pali High honorees. Alessandra Santini started “Pali Strong” in the immediate aftermath and raised $40,000 for impacted families in the Palisades. Alessandra, who is fluent in four languages, will serve as student body president at Pali High this coming school year. Yasmine Santini is Alessandra’s twin sister. That makes Alessandra Yasmine’s twin sister. Yasmine also attends Palisades Charter High School. Yasmine started Welcoming Hands LA, a nonprofit that helps immigrant students get settled in at school. She is on the varsity water polo team and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Pali High student newspaper.
up 1,000 booksthat she will be giving Away. Brendon Bowman also goes to Brentwood School. Like Ocean Silkman, he has a carwashing business. He also developed a mobile app called “Lookout,” which gives individuals a way to report coyote sightings. He is a student athlete and boasts a 4.0 GPA.
Carolyn LoBuglio, Carolyn Jordan, Jane Davis, Gennifer Yoshimaru, and Andrea Shaloo presented the awards. Amir Abtehadj, a Brentwood resident and a recipient of the same award several years ago, emceed the Student
Awards portion of the Brentwood Community Council Meeting.
Representatives from the offices of local elected officials – Traci Park, Ben Allen, Lindsey Horvath, Jacqui Irwin presented certificates of recognition to the students. As I say every year at this time, students like these offer great hope for the future. Students: Keep us posted in the coming years. We look forward to learning of your continued progress. Congratulations and good luck!
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multimedia editor at the Oracle, Archer’s student website.
Amelia Sarkisian attends Brentwood School. Her family’s home in the Palisades burned down. She has a perfect GPA, is the CIF champion in girls’ cross country, and she tutors students in STEM. She recently rounded
Ocean Silkman (Pali High), Brandon Bowman (Brentwood School), Alessandra Santini (Pali High), Yasmine Santini (Pali High), Amelia Sarkisian (Brentwood School), and Oona Seppala (Archer School for Girls).
Brentwood resident Amir Ebtehadj ran the Student Awards presentations at the May 14 meeting of the BCC
Marina del Rey Sportfishing: A Great Day on the Water
Fishing is a pastime like no other, America’s Most Popular Outdoor Activity for Year in and Year out!
You can experience the nostalgia of that pastime in real time at Marina Del Rey Sportfishing — a fun, safe, familyfriendly and affordable getaway on the waters near Marina del Rey, a seaside community west of Los Angeles, ten minutes north of LAX.
Whether you are a beginner or expert, Marina del Rey Sportfishing carries everything you need for a fishing trip on both public and private charters, designed for all ages and any level of fishing experience.
“Partyboat Sportfishing is a traditional activity that’s been around in California for about 100 years, it’s something that families and parents can do with their kids. It’s Wholesome Outdoor Recreation in the Sun and Fresh air, get away from the phones and tablets, and enjoy some Quality Outdoor Time!” said Rick Oefinger, president of Marina del Rey Sportfishing. “Beginners, tourists, families, gals and couples as well as salty old timers, all are welcome!”
At different times throughout the day, Marina del Rey Sportfishing charters groups of friends and families on the water. Depending on the season, Halibut Ling cod, sculpin, white fish, sand bass, Bonito and Barracuda, red snapper and rock fish are some of the many catches that can be found under the sea.
“We fish year-round, and there's never a season that we don’t have something to target,” said Oefinger. “The hardest part of the whole trip is getting yourself here on time. Dress for any outdoor activity and get yourself here!”
Marina del Rey Sportfishing hosts six fleets for anglers to explore:
• New Del Mar , a 75-foot aluminum hull sportfishing vessel, is open for two half day trips per day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The vessel features a full service galley with ice cold beer and one of the best cheeseburgers you’ll find on the Pacific waters.
• Spitfire is a big quick 65’ custom built ¾ day boat, with state of the art fish finding electronics and large bait capacity. Available daily from 6:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., the comfortable galley serves hot and cold meals with beverages.
• Betty O , the matriarch of the fleet, specializes in ¾ day trips for rock cod
and bottom fishing daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Private charters are available for groups up to 25 on Tortuga & Tourist and on the six passenger Free Spirit These are purpose built for SoCal Style Sportfishing, and all feature large live bait capacities, open walkaround decks, seating in and out, hot and cold running water, electricity and of course all their boats are USCG Inspected, Licensed and Equipped, carrying everything you need for a private, fun-filled sportfishing adventure.
• Mona Lisa is Marina del Rey’s own bait company, ensuring that private boaters and the entire fleet has all the live bait they could need. The bait dock offers walk up live bait sales, private boater live bait sales, and frozen squid and anchovies.
The fish you catch are yours to do with as you please — take home for supper or catch and release. Fish responsibly, take only what you need!
All boats carry California One-Day Fishing Licenses aboard for anyone over the age of 15 who needs a license. Tickets can be purchased online at www.mdrsf.com ranging from $4585 per ticket depending on the trip. All tickets include bait, and all trips depart Dock 52. Using maps, search “Dock 52 Fiji Way” for easy directions. For more information, visit mdrsf.com or call 310-822-3625 (310-822-DOCK).
SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2025 | 11 AM - 4 PM
Join us for a special Marina Culture Jam event to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Marina del Rey!
Man Accused of Stalking Jennifer Aniston Ruled Incompetent to Stand Trial
Stalking Suspect Says He’s Fit for Trial After Initial Psychiatric Evaluation
Jimmy Wayne Carwyle, a Mississippi man accused of stalking actress Jennifer Aniston and crashing his vehicle into the front gate of her Bel Air home, has been ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial, though he is now requesting a second psychiatric evaluation.
Jimmy Wayne Carwyle, 48, appeared in a mental health court in Hollywood on Thursday, where Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Maria Cavaluzzi ordered an additional evaluation following Carwyle’s challenge to the initial psychiatric finding.
The defendant, who remains in custody, was seen behind a glass partition wearing a blue anti-suicide smock and glasses. He appeared disheveled and expressionless during the brief hearing. According to Deputy Public Defender Robert Krauss, a court-
appointed psychiatrist had determined Carwyle is currently not mentally fit to participate in legal proceedings. However, Carwyle exercised his right to seek a second opinion.
Judge Cavaluzzi set a follow-up hearing for May 29.
Carwyle has pleaded not guilty to felony charges, including stalking and vandalism, stemming from a May 5 incident in which he allegedly drove his Chrysler PT Cruiser through the security gate of Aniston’s residence while she was home. A private security guard reportedly drew a weapon and detained Carwyle until police arrived. Authorities confirmed he never encountered the actress directly.
According to investigators, Carwyle had traveled to Los Angeles earlier this year intending to meet Aniston. His estranged wife, Julia Carwyle, previously told the Daily Mail that he suffers from delusions and believes he is Jesus Christ, claiming Aniston is meant to be his “queen.”
Crustacean Launches ‘Little C’ Vietnamese Pop-Up to Celebrate Chef Helene An’s Legacy
Sub: Three-Day Lunch Series Honors AAPI
Heritage Month With Chef’s Personal Recipes
Crustacean Beverly Hills will host a limited-run pop-up dining experience
May 28–30 in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Chef Helene An’s five decades in the kitchen. The event, titled Little C, offers a rare and personal glimpse into the Vietnamese culinary traditions that shaped Chef An’s journey. The pop-up features eight exclusive lunch seatings over three days, inviting guests to explore traditional Vietnamese flavors in a modern, approachable format. The menu includes dishes such as nourishing pho, crispy crab cha gio, and DIY spring rolls with langoustine and lemongrass-grilled fish, along with Vietnamese-inspired desserts and handcrafted mocktails and cocktails.
Little C arrives at a poignant time for
the An family, marking both Chef An’s 50-year culinary legacy and the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon—a historic event that deeply influenced her personal and professional life. The experience honors that legacy through storytelling, flavor, and cultural homage.
For the first time at Crustacean, Chef An will share her family-style pho with the public—an aromatic, heartfelt dish traditionally reserved for loved ones. Other highlights include a rotating large-plate special such as escargot banh xeo crepes, vibrant goi salads, and desserts like tapioca che, all presented in Crustacean’s transformed dining room, reimagined for the occasion with a casual-chic aesthetic inspired by Vietnamese street dining.
Set to run from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. daily, Little C targets a new generation of Los Angeles diners eager to explore heritage cuisine at a more accessible price point. It represents not only a culinary tribute but a broader celebration of community, identity, and the evolution of AsianAmerican food culture.
Reservations are strongly encouraged due to limited availability. Guests may secure their spot by visiting CrustaceanBH.com or emailing bookLittleC@houseofan.com.
Hollywood Man Sentenced for $65M COVID
Tax Scam Tied to Fake Beverly Hills Farm
IRS Scam
Featuring Fictional Beverly Hills Farm Ends in Prison Term
The Hollywood resident who fabricated a Beverly Hills-based farming enterprise to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 tax credits was sentenced Monday to nearly five years in federal prison.
Kevin J. Gregory, 57, was handed a 57-month sentence by U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton and ordered to repay $2.77 million in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. The prison term follows Gregory’s January guilty plea to a single count of filing false claims with the IRS.
Federal prosecutors said Gregory exploited emergency pandemic-era relief programs by falsely claiming that his fictitious company, Elijah USA Farm Holdings, qualified for over $65 million in tax refunds between November 2020 and April 2022. The purported business, supposedly headquartered in Beverly Hills and involved in farming and transportation, never existed and had no employees, authorities said.
Court records show that Gregory submitted multiple fraudulent tax returns seeking employment-related COVID relief, including the employee retention credit and the paid sick and family leave credit. These programs were created by Congress to help businesses retain workers and cover COVID-related leave during the pandemic.
Among the false filings, Gregory submitted a quarterly return in January 2022 claiming his non-existent company had 33 employees, paid $1.6 million in wages, deposited $18 million in federal taxes, and was entitled to nearly $6.5 million in COVID-related credits. In truth, the business operated on paper only and had no payroll activity or tax deposits, according to prosecutors.
The IRS ultimately issued more than $2.7 million in refunds, which Gregory used for personal expenditures.
Gregory has been in federal custody since his arrest in May 2023. The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by
The sentence is part of a broader effort by the Justice Department’s COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which was established in May 2021 to coordinate investigations and crack down on those who exploited pandemic relief programs.
Anyone with information regarding potential COVID-19 fraud can contact the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud at (866) 7205721 or submit tips online.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Williams of the Major Frauds Section.
Century City/ Westwood
Biggest Night of the Year: Don’t Miss
GMCLA’s ‘Dancing Queens’
Culminating its 46th season, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles will grace the crowd with Dancing Queens, celebrating iconic melodies across every genre with two special guest artists during Pride month.
Legendary performer and advocate Bruce Vilanch will take stage with GMCLA’s 200-member chorus as a special guest, celebrating Pride as never before with this over-the-top Season 46 blockbuster finale. Vilanch is a multiple Emmy-winning writer, actor, comedian, author, and stripper. He starred on Broadway and in the first national tour of the musical Hairspray, as Edna Turnblad, housewife-superstar.
He has been in projects as diverse as The Morning After with Jane Fonda, The Ice Pirates with Anjelica Huston, and “Celebrity Fit Club.”
“I’m doing two numbers with the GMCLA, which, I only hope I don’t fall on my face. I love the Chorus, I’ve been a supporter for years and have been to a number of their shows, so I’m thrilled,” Vilanch said. “I’m going to do a number from Hairspray, which I did 20 years ago, but it’ll be a different take on the number and something else, still in the planning stages, but it’ll be a big evening.”
Joining the Chorus is another special guest, dance-music diva and super ally
Kristine W. Named by Billboard Magazine as the #8 Greatest Dance Artist of All Time and the #3 greatest from the Last Decade, Kristine W compels bodies to find the mighty groove on the dance floor.
Dancing Queens, choreographed by Ray Leeper, will take place on Saturday, June 21, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 22, at 3:30 p.m. at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills.
In this eleganza extravaganza, GMCLA’s
singers will perform iconic dance melodies from Broadway musicals like Singin’ in the Rain, The King and I, My Fair Lady, Hairspray, and The Producers, along with music from artists that include Madonna, Lady Gaga, Bee Gees, Luther Vandross, ABBA, Kylie Minogue, Dua Lipa, and Earth, Wind & Fire. And, of course, Donna Summer.
Tickets for the concert can be purchased online.
MORE FUN, MORE COMMUNITY
Following the rhythmatic energy of the chorus, GMCLA is hosting its Annual Gala, raising funds for youth education and its countless free community events.
GMCLA’s GALA 2025 is on June 21, at 8:30 p.m. and celebrates those who have given selflessly to the Chorus and to the LGBTQ community by lifting their voices to advance human rights. Two honorees will be presented with GMCLA’s Voice Awards in the beautifully restored Art Deco lobby of the Saban Theatre.
For his decades-long contributions to the entertainment industry as a writer, performer, and advocate, Dancing Queens
special guest Bruce Vilanch will receive the Artistic Voice Award. As a publicly out entertainment personality, Vilanch has been a trailblazer for queer voices in the entertainment industry.
“The Chorus has been doing this faultlessly for 45 years. I've only been involved in a few of their shows, but I've been doing a whole bunch of other work, so it's nice to be acknowledged for it. To actually get up on stage with the energy of the Chorus, because they are electric, I'm looking forward to that,” Vilanch said.
GMCLA’s Civic Voice Award Honoree will be presented to the “CEO of Everything Gay,” Tristan Schukraft. A technology entrepreneur, turned hotelier nightlife aficionado and producer, Schukraft founded ID90.COM, an e-ticketing platform for airline personnel, later establishing MISTR, the largest telemedicine platform dedicated to HIV prevention and longterm HIV care, which currently serves over 500,000 patients across the United States. To reserve your tickets and for more information on GMCLA’s GALA 2025, visit www. GMCLA.org.
The soul’s greatest hits
From ‘Ave Maria’ to ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ and ‘Ode to Joy,” a Santa Monica concert raising funds to help fire victims offers a sacred collaboration of celebrated musicians and singers
By Linda Chase
If 19th-century Austrian composer Franz Schubert got into a time machine that took him to June 13 and deposited him on California Avenue in Santa Monica, he might hear a familiar tune.
As he walked by the St. Monica Catholic Church, he’d notice soprano Golda Zahra singing music from a song cycle he wrote based on Sir Walter Scott’s poem “Lady of the Lake,” which was inspired by the legends of King Arthur.
But Schubert would scratch his head because instead of he original German words, he’d be hearing Latin. That’s because his song was appropriated by the Catholic Church.
Schubert’s song begins with the lines, in English translation, Ave Maria, gentle maiden Listen to a plea of a maiden
The Catholic prayer “Hail Mary, Full of Grace” begins, in Latin, Ave Maria Gratia plena
Someone noticed that the prayer worked great with the Schubert music, and the result is probably still sung more often than any prayer in history, both in church and in concert.
Along with Zahra, “The Angelic Voice Concert” in St. Monica Church
features the 55-member Dream Orchestra conducted by Daniel Zuk and the 40-member Opera Chorus of Los Angeles. They they will be performing other famous inspirational chartbusters, including Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”; “You Raise Me Up,” popularized by Celine Dion, and the “Ode to Joy” from the last movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
Zahra and J.J. Lopez will sing “The Prayer,” made famous by Dion and Andrea Bocelli, and in a break from the spiritual compositions, violinist Ray Ushikubo will be featured in “Zigeunerweisen,” written by Spanish composer Pablo Srasate and based on Hungarian folk songs.
Proceeds from the concert go to St. Monica’s programs to help victims of the Los Angeles basin fires. First responders are invited to contact the church to attend a special concert rehearsal on June 11, followed by a dinner with the performers.
Conductor Daniel Suk and singer Golda Zahra have been working together since she was a teenager studying at the Colburn School in Los Angeles. “It is a joy to work with someone like that,” he said. He and the Dream Orchestra will continue to work with her after the St. Monica performance – in an eclectic solo concert in Santa Monica’s BroadStage on July 12 and in a concert version of Puccini’s “Turandot” at Disney Hall in Los Angeles on Aug. 18.
Linda Chase is a freelance writer based in Santa Barbara specializing in the arts, travel and lifestyle. This feature is produced by the Journalism Arts Initiative, which is underwritten by donations from arts organizations and others interested in supporting excellence in arts journalism.
Angelic Voice Concert, an evening of inspirational and sacred music with soprano Golda Zahra, the Los Angeles Dream Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Suk and the Opera Chorus of Los Angeles. June 13 at 7:30 p.m. at St.
Beverly Glen Sixth Grader Advances to Finals of National Student Cook-Off
Twelve-Year-Old Heads to Virginia to Compete in K12 Culinary Competition
Abijah Levy Minor, a 12-year-old student from Beverly Glen, has cooked his way to the national spotlight. The sixth grader at California Virtual Academies has secured a place among the top five finalists
in the 2025 K12 National Cook-Off, set to take place in Arlington, Virginia.
Minor said, “I enjoy making people happy with my meals, and I also like to have fun in the process of cooking,” as quoted by ABC 7 News.
Abijah’s journey began with a dish he calls “Raw Alaska,” which impressed judges enough to earn him a spot in the final round of the competition. Selected from a pool of more than 400 student applicants across the country, Abijah will now compete in two timed challenges for a chance to win the $1,000 grand prize.
The first round of the final competition will test contestants’ creativity under
pressure; each young chef will randomly draw an ingredient card and have one hour to craft an original entrée. In the second round, they’ll have 30 minutes to make a dessert of their choice. Abijah has already chosen to prepare a trifle for the dessert portion.
Abijah, who developed a passion for cooking in early childhood, will travel to Arlington next week with his father to compete. But for the young chef and his family, the experience itself is the biggest reward.
His parents agree, “Regardless of what happens, he’s already a winner.”
Monica Catholic Church, 725 California Ave., Santa Monica. Open seating in the pews is $33.85, including all fees. Tickets are available at www.angelicvoice.com
