S A N TA M O N I C A
REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY
smmirror.com
December 18 – December 24, 2020 Volume LXVII, Issue 72
INSIDE
SANTA MONICA’S INTERIM CITY MANAGER LANE DILG LEAVING THIS SPRING PAGE 5
Former Santa Monica Mayor Santa Monica City Council Stops Bob Holbrook Passes Away Controversial Hotel Project Holbrook passes away Friday at age of 79 By SaM CataNZarO
Former Santa Monica Mayor Bob Holbrook has passed away at the age of 79. Holbrook–Santa Monica’s longest continuously serving City Councilmember– passed away at his home Friday, December 11 after a long illness. He first assumed public office in 1982 as a School Board Member, the beginning of 32 years as an elected official in Santa Monica. “After two terms on the School Board I ran for Council and I’ve often joked that the reason for my successful run was, as President of the School Board, I had handed out the diplomas at the Samohi graduations and so I was known by so many families,” Holbrook–a graduate of Samohi himself–told the Mirror in 2014. Holbrook was born in 1941 in Santa Monica at the former St. Catherine’s Hospital on 4th Street. After World War II, his father returned from the Navy and they moved to Ocean Park. Bob and his sister Cherie attended John Muir, John Adams and Samohi schools. “In our last semester at Samohi everyone took a class to prepare us for the work world,” Holbrook said in 2014. “It was in the Ocean Park Library, doing my homework, and I found out from the reference book I was using that I was eligible to go to college. Because of the Great Depression my parents hadn’t been able to go to college so my going was a big deal in my family. “I went to SMC and I also worked at McCarthy Drug Store on Montana Avenue. The owner, Tom McCarthy, was the Mayor of Santa Monica at that time and he gave me my first exposure to what it meant to be in politics. I liked him. I learned so much from him. He was a good guy and always helping everyone,” Holbrook added. After SMC Holbrook went to USC and earned a pharmacist’s degree before joining
the California Air National Guard. “It is the only time in my life I’ve been away from California for so long. I spent six months in Texas and Alabama being trained by the Air Force,” Holbrook said. “They asked me to enlist and become an officer. I had different ideas. I wanted to come home and marry Jean Ann. I came back to California and got a job working as a pharmacist at Thrifty Drug Store.” Jean Ann and Holbrook married in 1967 living in a house on 10th Street, and soon after had three children: Bob Jr., Cindy and Craig. “By 1982 we had three kids in their early teens. Jean Ann talked to me about the School Board. The School and the College Boards were going to split into two Boards. That meant there would be open seats on the Boards and Jean Ann suggested I run for the School Board,” Holbrook Holbrook did run and was elected serving two terms. In 1990 he decided to run for City Council and emerged as the second-highest vote-getter in the election. Holbrook went on to serve continuously on the Council for a record six terms until 2014. Members of the Santa Monica City Council who knew and worked with Holbrook, a native-born Santa Monican, shared thoughts of gratitude for his decades of public service and significant tenure on the Santa Monica City Council (1990 – 2014). “Bob loved Santa Monica and its history and passionately shaped more than two decades of
Mayor Passes, see page 9
A rendering of The Plaza at Santa Monica project.
Council directs staff to end negotiations with the developer of The Plaza at Santa Monica By SaM CataNZarO
Led by the votes of newly-elected councilmembers and the recently chosen mayor, Santa Monica City Council has voted to stop a controversial hotel proposal in the heart of downtown. At the December 15 Santa Monica City Council meeting, Council directed staff to cease negotiations with the developers of The Plaza at Santa Monica. The proposal called for an 11-story, 240-room luxury hotel, with 106,800 square feet of creative office space, approximately 40,000 square feet of open public space and 48 units of affordable housing at 4th Street and Arizona Avenue in Downtown Santa Monica. Council voted 4-3 in favor of ceasing
Photos: City of Santa Monica
negotiations with developer Clarett West. Among those who voted to end the project was recentlychosen Mayor Sue Himmelrich, in her first significant vote in the role. “I voted against this project on public land, as I did last summer, because it never delivered sufficient value to the City either in its affordable housing, open space, or revenue. I look forward to working with my colleagues and the public to find a reimagined project that does deliver superior value to us on this prime City-owned property,” Himmelrich told the Mirror. Negotiations were put on hold in July after slow-growth group Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (SMCLC) filed a legal complaint arguing the property should be reserved for public use under the California Surplus Land Act. Recently-elected Councilmember Phil Brock, who voted to cease negotiations, says the future of the property will be guided by “a community process.” “I want to explore fresh options for this land that is owned by the people of Santa Monica. The
Plaza, see page 6
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December 18 – December 24, 2020
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December 18 – December 24, 2020
OPINION
Citizen Victory! SMa.r.t. Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow
Tuesday night Santa Claus brought Santa Monica a gift that we have waited 7 years for. That evening the City Council voted to end negotiations with the developer who wanted to put an oversized 12 story office/ housing/hotel sky scraper on your land at Fifth and Arizona. Misnamed the “Plaza” it was anything but a plaza. Instead it would have destroyed what little chance the local residents had of ever having sufficient open space in the increasingly impacted downtown of a park starved City. This City Council vote signals a City that is moving toward meeting the real needs of its residents instead of the needs of developers. It represents the residents flexing their muscles to take back their City and preserve its beach side charm from all the forces that conspire by over development against this precious original character of our City. And finally it signals, thankfully, a reborn City Council, led by the newly minted Mayor Sue Himmelrich, that acts to benefit the many instead of lining the pockets of the few. We can now have a robust community debate of exactly how this public land should be developed. While there will be many valid opinions as to what should happen there, as a starting point SMart feels there should always be one simple criteria: that a substantial portion of the 2 1/2 acre lot should remain a ground level urban park that would act like our “Central Park” or Boston “Commons” perfectly sited in the geographic center of our burgeoning downtown. But SMart eagerly awaits all the ideas that may emerge of both how that park should be programmed and of how buildings, if any, should be developed. This Victory did not just drop down the chimney by itself. It took residents thousands of hours of meetings to stop this pending mistake. It took the bravery of our 3 newest Councilpersons Christine Parra, Phil Brock and Oscar de la Torre, who were willing to run on a slow growth platform responsive to and accountable to residents. But the group the really slew this dragon that was about to incinerate our downtown, was the Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (SMCLC) particularly Diana Gordon who started a lawsuit to get the City to actually follow the law regarding how public surplus lands should be treated. For this reason SMart would like to publish their letter below with the back story. Without SMCLC getting the City to actually follow
Photo: theplazaatsantamonica.com
A rending of The Plaza at Santa Monica development.
the law (what a concept), we would likely not be celebrating today. Thank you SMCLC! SMCLC Letter: December 16, 2020 Dear Supporter of SMCLC, Last night was a watershed moment in Santa Monica: Our new City Councilmembers, Phil Brock, Oscar de la Torre, and Christine Parra, along with Mayor Sue Himmelrich, voted to end negotiations with the developer over “The Plaza,” the wildly unpopular project at 4th and 5th and Arizona. Following discussions in closed-session, the City Attorney announced that Council is directing staff to cease negotiations with the developers and set an open session for the Council to provide direction as to how to proceed with the property. The Council then approved such a motion (Brock made the motion; Parra seconded; the vote was 4/3). We should take a moment to reflect on this remarkable victory for residents and how good it feels to have a majority on City Council, who act as stewards of our public land, instead of favoring a huge private
hotel/office development. A Council who actually listened to residents instead of to a well-heeled developer and a Council who wasn’t afraid to recognize a failed process – one that hadn’t genuinely included the community from the outset. This win is the result of a sustained community effort by residents who opposed this project from its inception. Earlier this year, we penned an open letter to the City and the developer detailing growing resident opposition that had formed to stop the project and urging them to withdraw their plan to avoid a protracted battle. Here’s our letter signed by neighborhood groups and associations throughout our City: http://www.smclc.net/PDF/ MemoCityDev4thArz2-17-20.pdf Thereafter, when the City elected to move ahead on the project over SMCLC’s legal objections, SMCLC sued the City and the developer over the failure to follow the Surplus Land Act. That Act requires the City to first determine whether to create open space or build affordable housing on public land, before negotiating to privatize it with
a commercial development. Then all of us worked hard to elect the new members to the City Council, candidates who were firmly committed to stopping “The Plaza” project from going forward. So last night we arrived at a longawaited reckoning - that seven years of staff negotiations had yielded a failed project that would never get built, and that it’s time to have a REAL community process to decide what options we should pursue for our public land; a process that includes residents from the beginning rather than after a project has been designed and proposed. None of this would have happened without your support. We will let you know when the Council meets to discuss the future of our land. Thank you for standing with us and the community. Please forward this email to your friends and neighbors to sign up for updates and join in our efforts. Best, Victor, Diana, Sherrill, and Jeff
December 18 – December 24, 2020
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Santa Monica’s Interim City Manager Lane Dilg Leaving This Spring City Council to begin an executive search for replacement in early 2021 By SaM CataNZarO
Santa Monica’s Interim City Manager Lane Dilg says she will leave the position this coming spring. On Monday, Santa Monica Interim City Manager Lane Dilg shared with the City Council and City staff that she will leave the City of Santa Monica in Spring 2021 as her family relocates for public service outside of Santa Monica. Dilg took over as Interim City Manager in April 2020 after the resignation of former City Manager Rick Cole. Prior to taking the helm as Interim City Manager, Dilg served as City Attorney for nearly three years. “Across my career, I have been immensely proud to dedicate myself to the public good. Serving the City of Santa Monica as Interim City Manager during the pandemic has been no exception,” Dilg said. “In the months to come, I remain fully committed to our ongoing work together to craft a thriving, more equitable
Santa Monica as the pandemic subsides and the economy lifts. But I also know that finding the right leader for this uniquely talented city organization requires a deliberate, thoughtful search. To allow time for that search, I am letting the Council know now that my family plans to leave Santa Monica in the Spring of 2021.” As Interim City Manager, Dilg serves as chief executive officer and Director of Emergency Services for the City, managing an annual budget of $613.6 million and staff across ten City departments that provide services to 90,000 Santa Monica residents, workers and visitors. “Lane’s love of this city, her intellect, and her capacity to inspire hope in our darkest hours are the benchmarks of her leadership,” said Mayor Sue Himmelrich. “That Lane accepted this position at the City’s most desperate moment is a testament to her commitment to public service. She has built a foundation that will allow Santa Monica to thrive in years to come, and I look forward to working with her and the Council to establish a thoughtful, deliberate process for the City to identify its next City Manager.” The Santa Monica City Council will begin an executive search in early 2021. Dilg plans to remain with the City into the Spring of 2021 to assist with the transition, the City says.
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Photo: City of Santa Monica
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December 18 – December 24, 2020
Santa Monica Implements Temporary Free Parking in Downtown this Holiday Season Free parking in effect through Christmas
To support Santa Monica’s local businesses while providing a safe and shopping experience for the holiday season, the City of Santa Monica has temporarily waive parking fees in downtown Santa Monica public parking structures 1 – 6 from Friday, December 11 through Friday, December 25, 2020. “The City is making an investment into the Santa Monica economy by waiving downtown parking fees, complimenting Citywide free curbside pickup zones that help support local safe shopping and restaurant pick-up opportunities,” the City said in a press release. “Buying local keeps dollars in Santa Monica’s economy.”
Plaza, from page 1 lease term was intolerable, the project outdated and residents outraged by this project for seven years. Let’s unite behind a new project that will be guided by a community process that is in scale with the future of our beachside community. We can do better. We must do better,” Brock said.
According to the City, for every $10 spent at a Santa Monica business, as much as $7 stays in the community through payroll and taxes that are reinvested to support local schools, parks and community services. “The Buy Local Santa Monica program has over 1,000 businesses actively participating that employ over 3,700 Santa Monica residents and nearly half of our Buy Local businesses are owned by Santa Monica residents,” the City said. For more information about Santa Monica shopping districts or a list of unique Santa Monica gifts, visit: buylocalsantamonica. com/gifts2020 and santamonica.com/ holiday-specials. The Santa Monica “Open for Business” map is available at santamonica.gov/coronavirus-resources. Joining Brock and Himmelrich in voting to stop negotiations were recently-elected councilmembers Christine Parra and Oscar de la Torre. “Sometimes you need to take a step back to move forward. There were very compelling economic reasons to stay the course with the current developer and I appreciate the commitments made to bring us a new project but
ultimately our residents deserve a breather and an opportunity to envision a better, resident-focused project on land they own,” de la Torre said. The decision Tuesday reverses an August 6-1 vote to continue negotiations with developer Clarett West, in which the previous council decided the job, housing and revenue the project would generate outweighed the risks of pending litigation. Councilmember Gleam Davis, who
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voted against stopping negotiations on Tuesday, echoed these ideas in her remarks. “My no vote reflects my belief that we could get a very good project out of the current developer and that by continuing the exclusive negotiating agreement we would be able to ask them to produce a project that would not only be economically positive for the city, but also meet the concerns of residents,” Davis said. “By ending the exclusive negotiating agreement arrangement…we are postponing the project for an indefinite period into an indefinite future which will cause us to have significant delays in terms of developing both revenue-generating portions of the project, open space, as well as potential housing.” Voting along with Davis to continue negotiations were councilmembers Kristin McCowan and Kevin McKeown. When reached for comment, McKeown pointed out that the developer had recently offered to pivot and pursue a housing-only project, comprised of market-rate and affordable units. “The developer had already withdrawn the controversial Plaza project and offered to build a housing project with nearly a hundred affordable units, the permanent ice skating rink, open space, no hotel and no office — which is what the disposition of the land through the Surplus Land Act likely will yield anyway, but on a much longer timeline. Staff estimates declining that revised offer to begin negotiation through public hearings will mean a two year delay in converting empty parking lots into something of genuine value to our community, which we could have avoided if the Council had been willing to pivot as nimbly as the developer did,” McKeown said. After the Tuesday vote, under the Surplus Land Act, the City must now make the land open space or available to public agencies and housing sponsors for low- and moderate-income housing. City Council will vote at a later date to decide which of these paths to pursue. Councilmember McCowan, along with developer Clarett West, were not immediately available for comment.
December 18 – December 24, 2020
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Michelin-Starred Sushi Restaurant Relocating to Santa Monica? Shunji planning move to Ocean Park Boulevard By Kerry Slater Michelin-Starred sushi restaurant Shunji is reportedly relocating to Santa Monica. As reported by Eater LA, chef-owner Shunji Nakao seems to be planning to move the restaurant–currently at 12244 West Pico Boulevard–to 3003 Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica. Eater notes that the move is likely a relocation, not an expansion, due to a longtime dispute between the city, local stakeholders and the property owner–who wants to tear down the architecturally-unique, circular building that currently houses Shunji. The Japanese-born sushi maestro behind the counter—Nakao—previously worked at Nobu Matsuhisa’s eponymous 1980’s restaurant and Asanebo as well. “While the menu does offer à la carte, it is the omakase that is by far the better option. The itamae will ask how much you’d like to eat, and so begins this memorable meal. The slicing and crafting of each morsel is absolutely precise, as seen in red snapper with salt and lemon; halibut with yuzu zest; or even that massive bite of rich
Sushi simplicity at Shunji.
Photo: Shunji (Facebook)
monkfish liver. While the house-made texturally exquisite tomato “tofu” features four tomatoes and takes four days to prepare, it flaunts impeccable balance in acid and flavor—not unlike those nikiri-brushed pieces, like lean tuna or bluefin toro. In an unusual turn, meals here are sealed by such stellar soups as shiso with special seaweed,” reads the Michelin review bestowing Shunji a prestigious star. “Although this revered refuge is housed in a curious-looking building, just off Highway 10, guests arrive expecting serious sushi. Of course, that’s exactly what they get, though the atmosphere remains lowkey with just a small bar and handful of tables.” Since 2012 Shunji has been located in a building known as The Chili Bowl at 12244
The “Chili Bowl” building that is home to Shunji.
West Pico Boulevard, one of five remaining former Chili Bowl restaurant chain. Of the surviving Chili Bowls, the West Los Angeles location is the most intact and has operated nearly continuously as an eatery, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy
Photo: laconservancy.org
On February 4, 2021 Los Angeles City Council’s Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) committee will vote to consider sending the Chili Bowl nomination to the full City Council for Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM) designation.
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December 18 – December 24, 2020
Ekwa Msangi Directorial Debut With “Farewell Amor”
Photos: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release
An immigrant family reunites after 17 years: L-R: Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine as ‘Walter’, Zainab Jah as ‘Esther’ and Jayme Lawson as ‘Sylvia’ in Ekwa Msangi’s FAREWELL AMOR.
The word “auteur” is reserved for those filmmakers who have distinguished themselves through their work. Among those directors who have earned that coveted recognition are, Gus Van Sant, Christopher Nolan, David O. Russell, Woody Allen, Robert Altman, Martin Scorsese, Terrence Malick, Pedro Almodóvar, and Quentin Tarantino. Tanzanian-American Ekwa Msangi makes her directorial debut with her perfect script Farewell Amor. If this film is an example of her talent, and future works bear her signature, she is certainly destined to join those ranks. A tender story about an Angolian immigrant family facing new beginnings, the film is essentially a three-hander, with the finely fleshed out characters brought to life by the stirring performances of the principal actors. It’s time for rediscovery and director Msangi divides the film into three segments to reflect the adjustments each of the characters is trying to make. The first segment focuses on
Walter, amazingly brought to life by Ntare Guma Mbaho. He left his wife and daughter in Angola 17 years ago to escape the civil war. Since then, he has been working as a cab driver earning just enough money to pay for his living expenses, including rent on his claustrophobic Brooklyn apartment, sending whatever is left to his wife. The time has finally come when all the immigration red tape has been met and his family can now join him. His wife Esther, played by Zainab Jah, embodies the complexities of her character, and arrives at La Guardia Airport with their daughter Sylvia, played by Jayme Lawson. There is an awkward greeting between them for they meet again almost as strangers and before long they find themselves caught between two cultures. As the newly arrived immigrants take their first ride through the busy streets, cinematographer Bruce Francis Cole captures both the grittiness of New York as well as the wonder reflected in the eyes of these newcomers. At the family dinner that evening, Esther insists that they say grace first and Walter begins to get a glimpse of how deeply religious she is, which began when she fled to Tanzania. Confessing that she’s been celibate
since they separated, that evening there is an attempt at lovemaking, but Walter is clearly conflicted and turns his back away from her. Religion is deeply entrenched in his wife and she would rather go to church than enjoy a family outing. He tries to accommodate her wishes, but clearly is having difficulties and doesn’t participate in singing the hymns. Other forbidden things on her list include drinking wine and dancing, both of which he has been enjoying. Osei Essed’s lively soundtrack is a wonderful blend of African roots music as well as popular American selections. With his powerful inner life and spellbinding understated performance, at one point, Walter sniffs something from a bag hidden in a closet and without a word, we realize that there is another woman in his life. He subsequently throws the bag in the trash and continues to remain present and distant at the same time. At one point his daughter says, “Poppa do you love us?” The next segment is from Sylvia’s point of view. On her first day at school, she meets fellow student D.J., nicely portrayed by Marcus Scribner. He grew up in the south without a father, and on discovering that she likes to dance, suggests that she try out for
the Step Team. Her first new friend walks her home and when Esther sees him in their tiny apartment, she forbids her to have friends or dance, forcing her to kneel and pray for forgiveness. At school, Sylvia injures her hand and Walter takes her to the hospital. While waiting, he shares how he and her mother met at university and what great times they had dancing together. Sylvia doesn’t understand why he didn’t send for them sooner and he answers,“red tape.” He also explains that “This country is very hard for black people and dancing is the one place I can show myself,” encouraging her to dance. There is a quiet exchange between Walter and the nurse Linda (Nana Mensah) and we begin to understand exactly who she is and his struggle to let go of that relationship, one that has been loving and supportive. In the segment devoted to Esther, we see her slowly uncovering his secret as mail addressed to Linda keeps arriving. She spends most of her time cleaning, cooking, and talking to her sister back home, who advises her to increase her donations to the church, and they pray together over the phone. Esther
Beverly, see page 9
December 18 – December 24, 2020
Beverly, from page 8 finally confronts her husband about Linda and he replies, “She gave me hope.” We begin to understand that although Walter was in this loving relationship, he is committed to his wife and daughter. In an effort to discuss everything, he takes his wife out to dinner in a beautiful restaurant. She bought a new dress and looks lovely, exuding a softness we haven’t seen before as she comes off as pretty unlikeable. They discuss their past and what takes place is surprising and either you will smile or shed a tear or two. Farewell Amor could have easily slipped into a soap opera, but the finely honed script and razor-sharp, but gentle directing, resulted in an unforgettable family drama,
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illuminating aspects of the universal human condition and the inherent challenges therein, including sacrifices for the greater good. While all the performances are fully realized, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine’s totally internalized characterization of Walter is spellbinding and we must patiently await his next role and what awards he will garner. As far as the title Farewell Amor, that could have several interpretations. What do you think? “Farewell Amor” Release Date: December 2020 Where: In Theatres and on Digital and VOD Platforms Language: English Running Time: 101 Minutes Rating: Unrated
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NEW CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIRS WATERPROOFING GUTTERS L-R: Jayme Lawson as ‘Sylvia,’ Zainab Jah as ‘Esther’ and Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine as ‘Walter’ reluctantly attend church services.
Mayor Passes, from page 1 local policy with great care and heart,” said Mayor Sue Himmelrich. “He left the Council the same year I joined, yet his imprint is felt today. We grieve the loss of a Santa Monica great alongside his loving family. “ “I’ll always treasure Bob’s wisdom, wit, and generosity. He cared deeply about the city of his birth and showed it every day. We shared a deep volunteer commitment to charitable endeavors in Santa Monica. Our friendship was so indelible that even though there was a huge gulf between his USC Trojans and my UCLA Bruins we still found common ground. He was my mentor. I will miss him always and wish the best for his wonderful family,” said Councilmember Phil Brock. “Bob was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, as well as a loyal member of the USC Trojan family, and a dedicated public servant. He was always kind and generous and no one loved Santa Monica more,” said
Councilmember Gleam Davis. “Bob was the last of the previous generation of Santa Monica leadership, affable, amiable, and always quick with an anecdote. No Council meeting was ever complete without a spell of storytelling from Uncle Bob,” said Councilmember Kevin McKeown who served on the Council with Holbrook for 16 years. As Mayor, Holbrook sought means to combat homelessness and improve the quality of Santa Monica’s public spaces; an instrumental force in building Tongva Park and a memorial at Woodlawn Cemetery to honor local veterans. His impact was felt far beyond the borders of Santa Monica. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Mayor Holbrook led an aid effort sending trucks, forklifts and cranes to Bayou La Batre, Louisiana. Holbrook is survived by his wife Jean Ann, their children Bobby Jr., Cynthia and Craig along with four grandchildren. Due to the pandemic there will be a private burial. A public celebration of Bob’s life will be post pandemic.
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BEHIND THE SCREEN By Kathryn Whitney Boole What is normal? Can there be many colors of normal? You may find yourself contemplating these ideas after watching Sound of Metal. Darius Marder and Writer/Director Derek Cianfrance, conceived the seed of a story about a heavy metal drummer who loses his hearing. Cianfrance had played drums for a heavy metal band and experienced tinnitus in his ears. He gave his blessing to Marder to use the idea for a film. Little did Marder realize that it would take him 13 years of dedication to complete his directorial debut. Marder and his cast all poured their hearts into this movie. The filmmakers were meticulous about sound design in order to recreate all the experiences of deafness, to the point that the sound track almost becomes its own character. Riz Ahmed loses himself in the role of drummer “Ruben Stone” and carries this story on his shoulders. I had noticed Ahmed in a supporting role in the sleeper film The Sisters Brothers (2018). He brought an intensity and depth to his character seldom seen from even the best actors. To prepare, he spent six months learning the drums and American Sign Language. For a while he wore auditory blockers deep inside his ears that emitted white noise. Later he simply immersed himself in deaf culture by communicating with the director and deaf cast members almost entirely in ASL. He noted in an interview that he hopes the film encourages more people to learn ASL. Ahmed is a British Pakistani actor, rapper and activist who graduated from Oxford with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. He released a sarcastic top rap single in 2006 called “Post 911 Blues,” which caught the attention of satirist Christopher Morris who cast him in his BAFTA-winning film Four Lions (2010), and Ahmed’s career as an actor was born. Olivia Cooke, who is the perfect foil to Ruben
Rated R 120 Minutes Released December 4th on Amazon Prime as “Lou,” his long-suffering band member and girlfriend, was born in Manchester, England and studied drama, ballet and gymnastics. Cooke is a lesson in perseverance. She was turned down by RADA and lost out to other actors for roles in two British soap operas. Her breakout role was in the highly acclaimed Sundance film, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015). She now has several high profile projects on the horizon. Including the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon. Marder was pressured to cast known actors as “Joe.” He held out until he found Paul Raci. Paul is not deaf himself. However both his parents were deaf and he is fluent in ASL. He did two tours in Vietnam and is a prominent member of CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) and a member of Hands of Doom, a band who perform in ASL. This remarkable film is about embracing a sea change, a process that we all are going through right now. Marder believes “We won’t go back…we either adapt and accept, or we get run over. That’s the entire concept of Sound of Metal.” If you are a hearing person, this film allows you to imagine the experience of a deaf person. Perhaps you can get inside the head of Ludwig Van Beethoven, who composed some of his greatest works of music after he became deaf. Sidebar: I am incoming president of the Lions Club of Santa Monica. Lions Club International was challenged in a speech at their 1925 convention, by Helen Keller who was both blind and deaf since infancy. She asked the Lions to become “knights” of support for people affected by blindness and deafness all over the world. She said of her teacher Annie Sullivan, “a ray of light from another soul touched the darkness of my mind.” Lions have embraced their “knighthood” ever since. Anyone interested in joining us, just email me. Kathryn Whitney Boole has spent most of her life in the entertainment industry, which has been the backdrop for remarkable adventures with extraordinary people. She is a Talent Manager with Studio Talent Group in Santa Monica. kboole@gmail.com.
December 18 – December 24, 2020
WWW.SMMIRROR.COM
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Gifts for Everyone at The Book Jewel
Westchester’s first independent bookstore opens doors
Fall weather has set in, opening the doors to the Holiday season and there is no better place to enjoy the spirit of the Holidays than at a local bookstore. The Book Jewel, Westchester’s first independent bookstore, opened in late August and has quickly become a transformative space for the Westchester community. Sean Moor, manager of The Book Jewel, says about the opening, “Westchester’s unique, tight knit community immediately welcomed our small business with open arms. In turn, our bookstore has quickly been filled with the character and life of the place. Paiges, our locally rescued store kitten, has especially become a highlight of visiting The Book Jewel.” Books are uniquely personal gifts and so are the spaces that house them. As The Book Jewel bravely opened its doors during the pandemic, they have prioritized the health and safety of their customers by providing a socially distanced and sanitized environment. “Our decision to open our store during a pandemic was one to empower and contribute to the community in a time of need. Books are a vital source of information and entertainment, and we wanted to safely give customers the opportunity to enjoy our inspiring space and take home a real, tangible book for company” says Moor. In these unprecedented times, independent bookstores are struggling to rival the economic conditions of the pandemic, but thankfully The Book Jewel’s roots are in the community, and the
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER 20SMRO00197 Name of Protected Person Yelena Koldobskaya Representing Self Name of Restrained Person Steve Pisa Male, White, 46 years old Address unknown Court Hearing This order expires at the end of the hearing stated below 12/29/20, 8:30 am. Superior Court of California County of Los Angeles 1725 Main St., Sant Monica Ca. 90401 Dept. F Printed in Santa Monica Mirror on 11/27/20, 12/4/20, 12/11/20 and 12/18/20 Criminal Protective Order
The interior of The Book Jewel, located at 6259 W 87th Street in Westchester.
Photos: Courtesy
business continues to thrive with the help of the local neighborhood and loyal customers. Although The Book Jewel is not yet hosting in person events or readings, they engage their community through weekly newsletters and an online book club, which recently finished Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. As a house of culture and ideas, The Book Jewel prioritizes and promotes diversity and inclusion through its expansive politics, African American studies, LGBQT+ and feminist literature collections. Their children’s section also reflects local authors, communities of color and the diversity of the store as a whole. Moor says about their curation, “We believe all voices should be reflected in writing and literature. Our collections focus on showcasing a diversity of authors, especially in our own community.”
Karen Dial, owner of The Book Jewel, is looking forward to the upcoming seasons, “We are beyond grateful for the support our community has shown since opening our doors in late August. This bookstore in many ways is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream and I wanted it to be an inclusive space for everyone. I believe that the magic of our store is that anyone who visits can find a book or gift that speaks to them personally, and the welcoming space invites them to do so.” The Book Jewel’s interior is authentic and inviting, a reprieve from the digital world we exist in. The 3,000sq ft space is framed with dark Victorian bookshelves stretching to the vaulted wooden ceiling. It is a place where the past dwells among the books we love most, and the present offers itself up in the brilliant new authors waiting to be discovered.
The Book Jewel offers the perfect combination of past and present, new and used titles. In addition to the hardy paperbacks, The Book Jewel also offers unique stationary, literary apparel, games & puzzles, candles and other local artisan gifts. In this season of giving, The Book Jewel is full of treasures to share. There is a wealth of joy and love to be found among the carefully curated shelves and heartfelt gifts. The Book Jewel’s warm atmosphere makes it the perfect place for holiday shopping, but knowing that you are supporting your local community in doing so, makes it the gift that keeps on giving. Thebookjewel.com 424-750-9991 Instagram, Facebook, Twitter @thebookjewel 6259 W 87th Street Los Angeles CA 90045
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 20SMCP00425 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 1725 Main St. | Santa Monica, CA 90401 Petition of: Elisabeth Anne Hobbs, by and through Elisabeth Anne Hobbs for change of name. ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME To all interested persons: Elisabeth Anne Hobbs Petitioner: filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Elisabeth Anne Hobbs to Elisabeth Esme Davies The court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: 02/26/2021 | Time: 8:30AM | Dept: K A copy of this ORDER to SHOW CAUSE shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: SANTA MONICA MIRROR | Dated: Dec. 10, 2020 Judge Lawerence Cho Published: 12/11/2020, 12/18/2020, 12/25/2020, and 01/01/2021
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 20SMCP00420 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 1725 Main St. | Santa Monica, CA 90401 Petition of: Katherine Rose Taylor, by and through Katherine Rose Taylor for change of name. ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME To all interested persons: Katherine Rose Taylor Petitioner: filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Katherine Rose Taylor to Katie Rose Taylor The court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: 02/19/2021 | Time: 8:30AM | Dept: K A copy of this ORDER to SHOW CAUSE shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: SANTA MONICA MIRROR | Dated: DEC. 10, 2020 Judge Lawrence Cho Published: 12/11/2020, 12/18/2020, 12/25/2020, and 01/01/2021
FILE NUMBER: 2020206171 ORIGINAL FILING This statement was filed with the County Clerk of LOS ANGELES ON 12/03/20. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as 1. SANTA MONICA POSTAL SERVICES 1626 MONTANA AVE, SANTA MONICA CA. 90403. The full name of registrant(s) is/are: DIMITRIS PAPANIKOLAOU 1626 MONTANA AVE, SANTA MONICA, CA. 90403. This business is conducted by An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 07/2016. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime). Signed DIMITRIS PAPANIKOLAOU. This Statement was filed with the County Clerk of LOS ANGELES County on DEC. 03, 2020. NOTICE: IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE). SANTA MONICA MIRROR to publish 12/11/2020, 12/18/2020, 12/25/2020, and 1/1/2021
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WWW.SMMIRROR.COM
December 18 – December 24, 2020
SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Get ahead this 2021 Complete a full-credit class in just 6 weeks. Winter classes start Jan 4 smc.edu/winter
SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dr. Nancy Greenstein, Chair; Dr. Susan Aminoff, Vice Chair; Dr. Louise Jaffe; Dr. Margaret Quiñones-Perez; Rob Rader; Dr. Sion Roy; Barry A. Snell; Joshua Elizondo, Student Trustee; Kathryn E. Jeffery, Ph.D., Superintendent/President Santa Monica College | 1900 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405 | smc.edu