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Santa Monica Mirror 9.28.18

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INSIDE REVIEW: “The Untranslatable Secrets of Nikki Corona”

S A N TA M O N I C A

REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY smmirror.com

Sept. 28 – Oct. 4, 2018 Volume XXI, Issue 11

PAGES 10&12

Potential SM Serial Killer in Custody Ramon Escobar faces three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder. By Sam Catanzaro At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Captain William Hayes told reporters that the LAPD is looking into whether to classify 47year old Ramon Escobar as a serial killer. “We are looking at that,” Hayes said responding to a reporter. “The criteria for a serial killer is three or more victims. Obviously, we have three victims at this point in time, and there are two that are in critical condition that we don’t know their particular status but he is a violent predator, and I will leave it at that.” The LAPD is holding Escobar for the murder of two homeless individuals, 59-year-old Kelvin Williams and 24-year-old Brandon Ridout, in Downtown L.A. on September 16 and the death of another man, 39-year-old Steven Cruze Jr., last Thursday under the Santa Monica Pier. Both the Los Angeles Police Department and the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) believe Escobar to be responsible for four additional assaults on homeless individuals, one in Downtown L.A. and three in Santa Monica. Two of the Santa Monica victims are in critical condition in comas. The condition of the fifth surviving victim is not immediately known. On Monday, September 24, at approximately 7 a.m., a male was violently attacked in the area of 7th and Colorado in Santa Monica. The victim remains in critical condition in a coma. An SMPD officer checking the area around the crime scene observed Ramon Escobar walking on the street. “That Santa Monica public service officer noticed Ramon Escobar’s distinctive gait and recognized that his physical features and clothing resembled that of the suspect pictured

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Photos: Courtesy.

A surveillance image shows Ramon Escobar, the man who police believe to be responsible for the attacks and murders of homeless men throughout L.A. and Santa Monica.

in the crime alert we released,” Hayes said. In searching Escobar’s car, a 2004 Black Honda CRV, officers found a wooden baseball bat believed to be the murder weapon in the downtown murders. Officers also found a set of bolt cutters while processing the Santa Monica crime scene that is thought to be the weapon in Monday’s attack. Hayes says that even though all the victims were homeless, after interviewing Escobar, detectives do not believe that he directed the attacks at any specific group. “It does not appear that it was directed at any specific group. I think it was a crime of opportunity,” Hayes said. “It appears the motive in most of these cases was robbery. Although they were homeless individuals he appears to have been homeless himself and that it appears as he was attempting to gain funds or something from them.” Escobar’s criminal history includes an unverified five-year stint between 1995 and 2000 in a Texas prison for burglary. In November of 2017, Escobar was arrested by Houston police officers for assault and again in February of 2018 for criminal trespassing. In Tuesday afternoon’s press conference,

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for a September 8 attack of a victim sleeping around the 1800 block of the Santa Monica Beach, suffering blunt force trauma injuries to the head. “He was hospitalized and has since been released but has no recollection of the incident,” Shirley said. Two nights later, another victim was assaulted in the same general area, suffering similar injuries and is currently in a coma. Shirley says that the SMPD also believes Escobar to be responsible for the September 20 Pier murder and Monday’s assault. “We believe the suspect in custody today is responsible for all four of those incidents,” Shirley said. “I think the people who live, work and visit in Santa Monica and Los Angeles are safer today because this suspect is in custody.” Escobar is currently being held without bail and will be arraigned in Division 30 of the Los Angeles Superior Court. Tuesday morning, based on the evidence obtained in this case, LAPD and SMPD detectives jointly presented four attempt murder investigations and three murder investigations to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office for filing considerations.

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Hayes said that in addition, Escobar is believed to be a “previously deported felon” from El Salvador. “Apparently it looks like he applied for asylum and may have been granted it but we are still trying to verify that,” Hayes said. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Escobar has been deported six times since 1988. The Houston Police Department believes Escobar to be a person of interest in the late August disappearance of his two relatives, Tina and Rajilio Escobar. “Investigators, because Mr. Escobar lived with those two individuals, believed him to be a person of interest. They interviewed him on August 30 and shortly thereafter it appears as though he fled the state of Texas. From what we can gather, he traveled the Interstate 10 to Los Angeles and what we know now is that he arrived in Los Angeles on September 5,” Hayes said. Soon after Escobar arrived in Los Angeles, he began the series of assaults. Captain Wendell Shirley, SMPD’s Commanding Officer for the Criminal Investigations Division, says the SMPD believes Escobar to be responsible

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Captain William Hayes told reporters that the LAPD is looking into whether to classify 47-year old Ramon Escobar as a serial killer.

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Sept. 28 – Oct. 4, 2018 NEWS

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ICE Officers Arrest 150 in L.A. Area Operation in the MIRROR • WWW.SMMIRROR.COM

of Montana Avenue in order to investigate a report of a disturbance. The reporting party had stated that they had heard loud noises and the sound of objects being hurled around the residence. When the officers arrived at the location they knocked on the door of the apartment and the tenant answered. The officers learned from this tenant that his “friend” was inside the apartment and that his “friend” had become intoxicated after consuming copious amounts of alcohol (that is typically what happens). tenant added that his “friend” had By SamThe Catanzaro made quite a mess of the apartment and had refused leaveday when requested. officers Over to a three stretch betweenThe Sunday and entered the apartment and noticed that furniture Tuesday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcehad strewn around the150 room and throughthat the mentbeen (ICE) officers arrested people “friend” was indeed A heavily intoxicated. The offiout the Southlands. man with a conviction for cers attempted to reason thiswho drunken man attempted murder and a with woman has seven but to no avail, as theunder officers talk convictions forand driving thecontinued influencetowere with thethose man arrested he suddenly punched one of the offiamong by ICE officers. cersOfinthose the face with in a closed fist. Theand officers arrested Los Angeles surimmediately tackled the man andand afterTuesday, a brief rounding areas between Sunday struggle thepercent man washad overpowered arrested. about 90 criminal and convictions. Local26-year-old law enforcement agencies This Venice resident washad laterpreviouscharged ly released 40 upon percent of those with resistingapproximately arrest and battery a police offiarrested thissetweek, despite having a detainer cer. Bail was at $50,000. placed on them by ICE, which asks arresting A Glassless Window agencies to notify immigration officers before an alien’s release from custody. On Wednesday, February 1, at 12:58 a.m. offistate laws preventing ICE from workcers“The of the Santa Monica Police Department were ing in the jails is significantly impacting public flagged down by a citizen in the 2000 block of Pico safety by who letting repeat Boulevard toldserious them that theyoffenders had heard back glass out onto our said aThomas Giles, Acting shattering andstreets,” had spotted man standing next to Field Office Director for ICE Enforcement and the broken window of a parked car on the street. Removal Operations (ERO) Los Angeles. “Our presence would be focused in the jails, rather

FEBRUARY 10 – 16, 2017

Individuals from 12 different countries were detained.

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Publisher: T.J. Montemer tj@smmirror.com s of any race, color, national and ethnic 310.310.2637 ext. 107origin Executive Editor: rams, and activities generally accorded or Sam Catanzaro editor@smmirror.com e school. 310.310.2637 ext. 103 asis of race, color, Production Manger: Amy Patton ministration of its Editor-at-Large: policies, scholarship Beverly Cohn Advertising VP of Sales: and other Judy Swartz judy@smmirror.com 310.310.2637, ext. 102 Business Manager: Max Montemer

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Over a three day stretch between Sunday and Tuesday, ICE officers arrested 150 people throughout the Southlands.

The citizen added that this person had appeared to the apartment complex in which she resided. The had to supply a detailed descriphave thefor ground next to the than been in thepicking streets,items and off safer all involved, if victim 76 of thebeen 150able arrests by ICE this week took ICE could again coordinate transfers crimiof in theLos suspect, whichCounty. had alsoICE beenwas conveyed to vehicle before leaving the area. The citizenofgave the tion place Angeles unable nal aliens with local jails.” of the suspect and the the officers, as theywas were en route the location. officers a detailed description to verify if there anybody in to Santa Monica According tosearch an ICEofpress release, arrest The officers arrived in the vicinity apartment officers went in this man. As these the officers arrested in the operation, telling of thethe Santa Montargeted publicthe safety such another as convicted ica Mirror wetoonly the breakdowns and"that began scourhave the area. The officers were searching areathreats, they spotted vehi- complex criminal individuals who hadwas violated by county city," lurking according to spokesperspottednot thebysuspect in the 1300 block cle with aand smashed window that parkedthe at imthe soon migration came at the same sonAlley Richard Rocha. Number 10. The suspect was easy to recside of the laws. street.This Theoperation officers then drove back to of time2000 thatblock Ramon Escobar, a 37-year old they manspotwho ognize The due arrestees 12 to theincluded fact thatindividuals in additionfrom to the the of Pico Boulevard where had abeen by ICE six times Salva- description countries: Mexico Guatemala (9),was El Salgiven by(123), the victim the suspect ridted mandeported who fit the description of to theElsuspect. dor, officers was arrested by this Santa Monica andmoments Los An- ing vador Honduras Belize (2), Argentina one(6), bicycle whilst (3), pushing a second one with(1), his The detained man and a few gelesthe police officers in connection to a series of free Armenia Lebanon (1), this Nicarahand.(1), TheCanada officers(1), attempted to stop suslater citizen who had flagged the officers down murders ofand homeless individuals. gua (1), Singapore (1) and the and Philippines but he tried to speed away in doing(1). so disappeared positively identified the suspect. pect Shortly thereafter the owner of the first vandalized carded the second bicycle. The officers eventually vehicle appeared and stated that numerous items caught the man and he was arrested and taken off that had been recovered from the suspect had been to jail. A search of this 21-year-old Hemet, CaliforPersonalized Service Since 1936 Immediate Phoneof Quotes in the discovery not only the stolen fromProfessional his car. The& owner of the vandalized nia resident resulted vehicle was desirous of a prosecution so the officers seemingly obligatory burglary tools but also a TM not justSanta about It’s of about peace of This mind. methamphetamine. man was later arrestedIt’s this 19-year-old Monicainsurance... resident and packet he was charged with vehicle burglary in addition to charged with possession of burglary tools, possession of methamphetamine, theft and resisting or possession of opiates. Bail was set at $20,000. delaying arrest. Bail wasNeeds set at $10,000. Let Us Be Your One-Stop Shop For All Your Insurance

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Editor’s Note: These reports are part of a regular police On Wednesday, February 1,• APARTMENTS/CONDOS at 3:40 a.m. offi• E-COMMERCE cers of the Santa Monica Police Department coverage series entitled “Alert Police Blotter” (APB), You Could Receive Up to a 15% Discount When You Purchase Both Homeowners & Auto Insurance Policies received a call for service in regard to a possible which injects some minor editorial into certain police activbicycle theft that had just occurred in the 1300 ities in Santa Monica. Not all of The Mirror’s coverage of block of 10th Street. As the officers hastened to the incidents involving police are portrayed in this manner. scene they learned via police radio that a victim had More serious crimes and police-related activities are reguseen a man stealing her bicycle that at that time, had larly reported without editorial in the pages of the Santa 2325 • SANTAofMONICA www.bobgabrielinsurance.com Monica• Mirror and its website, smmirror.com. been locked upWILSHIRE in a bicycleBOULEVARD rack in the courtyard Family Owned & Operated

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Mirror invites letters from readers on any subject. All letters must include the phone number and address of the writer. Letters are subject to editing from the Editor for reasons including length or questionable content. Views expressed in Letters to the Editor are not necessarily the views of The Santa Monica Mirror. Mail : 2116 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 260 Santa Monica, CA 90403 E-mail: editor@smmirror.com

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Sept. 28 – Oct. 4, 2018

SPORTS: SMC Soccer

SMC SOCCER OFF TO STELLAR START Women’s Soccer continues its dominating run. By Chad Winthrop The Santa Monica College Corsairs women's soccer team have started off their 2018 campaign in an impressive fashion, with four wins, one loss and with four draws, they have shown their opponents that they are a tough team to beat. This past week, the Corsairs picked up two more draws. On September 21, SMC traveled to LA Harbour College and found themselves trailing 1-0 within the first 2 minutes of the game. In the 17th minute, however, Filippa Struxsjo answered back for the Corsairs with a goal of her own to tie the game. After LA Harbor scored a second goal in the last minutes of the second half to go up 2-1, SMC came out firing to start the second half, shooting 22 shots while LA Harbor's goalkeeper recorded 9 saves. Still trailing at the end of the half with no time left on the clock, SMC took advantage of a penalty kick that was awarded for a handball. Filippa Struxsjo stepped up and made a shot to end the game in a 2-2 tie. On Tuesday, September 25, the Corsairs

The Corsairs men’s soccer team is starting the season strong.

were right back at it in an away game at Ventura College. In a game that highlighted the defensive prowess of both teams, SMC and Ventura battled for 90 minutes with neither team scoring a goal. In the 78th minute, the Corsairs lost a player to a red card, but over the final 12 minutes, Ventura was unable to score, leading to a 0-0- draw. Up next for SMC is a home game today at 4 p.m. versus Antelope Valley College. The Corsairs have another home game on Tuesday, October 2 versus Moorpark College.

Photo: Morgan Genser.

SMC’s Ceirra Little battles it out with Rio Hondo’s Viviana Ramirez.

By Chad Winthrop

Photo: Morgan Genser.

Rio Hondo’s Miguel Hernandez (left) and SMC’s Cyrille Njomo both jump in the air and challenge each other for a head ball.

With a 6-1-2 record, the men’s soccer team has shown all their opponents they are a force to be reckoned with. On Friday, September 21, the men traveled down LA Harbour College for an away game. After battling for 90 minutes with no points scored, the game ended in a 0-0 tie. SMC goalie Aydin Kose continued his dominating season, saving two shots on goals. On the year, Kose has only allowed two goal. On Tuesday, September 25, the Corsairs took on Citrus College in another away game. Santa Monica got off to an early lead with a goal by Ludovico Riviello in the 28th minute but Citrus responded in the second half with a goal by Patrick Luevano in the 48th minute. On Friday, September 28, SMC will host Glendale for a 1 p.m. game. Glendale is 0-7 on the season, meaning SMC should be the favorite to win this game.


Sept. 28 – Oct. 4, 2018

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Honoring Santa Monica Firefighters, Firetrucks By Staff Writer

September is Firefighter Appreciation Month and this week M Street Kitchen in Santa Monica showed their support for these heros by donating a portion of their sales to the California Fire Foundation (CFF) and the Santa Monica Fire Department (SMFD). “Firefighter Appreciation Month (FFAM) is a time when businesses, celebrities and individuals acknowledge the work of our local firefighters by raising money for some of the Foundation’s key educational, financial, and emotional support initiatives,” wrote the CFF in a press release. “Statewide businesses, celebrity supporters will help raise money and awareness for fallen CA firefighters, their families and the communities they serve.” On Wednesday, September 26, the SMFD was at M Street Cafe on Main Street, giving tours of two modern fire trucks and one vintage 1950s rig. The rig was in use from 1952 to 1980 and the SMFD is currently crowdsourcing to restore this truck back its original form. “It was recently purchased by the Santa Monica Firefighters Relief Fund and will become a showpiece for the community. Our goal is to raise money and restore it to near perfect condition. We are looking to partner with local businesses as well as citizens to help us reach our goal. Please consider mak-

An SMFD fire truck from 1952.

Photo: Courtesy.

ing a tax-deductible donation to this worthy cause,” The Santa Monica Firefighters Relief Fund writes on their website. In addition to giving tours of fire rigs old and new, firefighters talked with guests, answered questions and provided insight on what being a firefighter is like in Santa Monica. Afterward, firefighters from Santa Monica Engine 1, Engine 2, Engine 6, and Truck 1 enjoyed a dinner at Stella Barra & M Street Kitchen for pizza and dinner. For more information about the California Fire Foundation visit, www.cafirefoundation.org. To donate and help the SMFD restore the 1950s truck, visit smfire.org/ bring-back-the-mac/.

Wellness and serenity for the body, mind, and spirit.

The Broad Stage presents John Beasley’s big band MONK’estra By Staff Writer The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica presents pianist/composer/arranger John Beasley who will bring the smashing, four-time GRAMMY®-nominated big-band MONK’estra to The Broad Stage for the first time on Friday, October 12. Capturing the spirit of Thelonious Monk’s singular music in fresh arrangements flavored with contemporary sounds that critics have called “some of the most mesmerizing big-band music of recent memory.” John Beasley has built upon Monk’s foundational legacy to create one of the most innovative bodies of music celebrating the legendary pianist-composer Thelonious Sphere Monk. Beasley’s arrangements are refreshingly 21st-century in sound. They incorporate hip-hop and bossa nova, Afro-Cuban jazz and funk, fusion and free jazz, without ever losing the essence of Monk’s genius. And in Beasley's intricate writing for the reeds, and his dramatic brass parts, Beasley takes us from the swamps of his own native Louisiana to the sleek towers of Monk’s adopted hometown, New York. Monk’s songs inhabited a fantastic world of their own, spawning unique forms and colors, stories and pictures, and rewriting the rulebook as they took shape. They deserve nothing less than a similar explosion of invention and novelty when re-conceived

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for the orchestral idiom. “I think musicians are still catching up with what Monk was telling us,” says Beasley. “I’ve discovered how pliable his music is, like any great composer – for example, Bach, who sounds great in any tempo. Monk’s music is so open to interpretation because his compositions have such a solid story. I figured out how to elongate his sophisticated melodies and voice things in a non-traditional way. And through it all, those unforgettable melodies just stick with you. Especially when played by Monk himself – as in this inventive evening of cross-discipline experimentation.” Tickets are available by calling 310.434.3200 or visiting www.TheBroadStage.org. Jazz & Blues is made possible by a generous gift from Richard and Lisa Kendall.

Photo: Courtesy.

Grammy-nominated big-band MONK’estra is coming to the Broad Stage for the first time on Friday, October 12.


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Sept. 28 – Oct. 4, 2018

OPINION

Bull in China Shop, or Wrecking Ball? SMa.r.t. Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow

I was lamenting the turn our beach town has taken in the last few years. Sadly, not for the better. Crime is up significantly. Homelessness seems to have increased, and from reading various comments made on local social media and news sources, has produced a more violent group within. And the freeze frame traffic. One wonders and speculates about the root causes of what I would define as the decline in our quality of life. In ruminating, I recalled that our police vehicles were once blue and white, seemingly representative of a more peaceful beachfront town. Then along comes a decision to change them to a more aggressive urban/authoritarian look and the cars became the large city black & whites. Why the shift? The change occurred about the time the City started re-writing it’s General Plan and LUCE (Land Use Circulation Element), which was also the beginning of the over-development that we are experiencing. But what was the cause

of programming this rampant development? Was it the innocence of the poor bull that somehow stumbled into the china shop out of curiosity (i.e., applying the latest textbook design concepts

HOME INSPECTION DEAL BREAKERS

By Ron Wynn

It is common practice for a buyer to have a physical inspection when purchasing a home. Some sellers chose to do a pre-inspection in advance. A buyer’s inspection can either be approved, or can be negotiated in two ways. A negotiation can either conclude with a seller requested repair, or a “cash credit” to be applied at the close of escrow. There are occasions where an inspection report causes a buyer to think twice, or even back out of a transaction. Sometimes a buyer is overly reactive, even when the findings are not severe. There are however some reasons for a buyer to back out when issues become costly or complex. The biggest reason I have found that buyers back out are issues related to soil conditions, land movement and settlement. Hillside purchases can be very tricky. It is suggested a buyer have an intensive geological inspection to determine land and soil reliability. The second issue that can also be “deal threatening” is drainage. Improper drainage can cause a lot of problems, which may be evident at the time of the inspection, or maybe just the writing on the wall for the future. Drainage issues can be very cumbersome to resolve, and in some cases cannot be resolved at all. Another big deal breaker are environmental issues, which can include mold or a variety of other issues that can cause a buyer to think twice. Mold issues can be expensive to resolve, and in some cases cannot be resolved at all. It comes back to how deep the mold penetrates and finding the root of the mold

Photo: Coursy Pedro Szekely.

In this week’s S.M.a.r.t. column, Bob Taylor reflects on how Santa Monica has changed.

problem. There are cases where mold is very difficult to remediate and where a cost cannot be determined. Extensive dry rot can be another issue but can be resolved in most cases. Other issues include significant water penetration. This can be a big issue, particularly when it penetrates the foundation or comes from a place that cannot easily be determined. Structural issues will sometimes be revealed both under the house and when an inspector crawls through an attic space. There are instances when a house has twisted or tilted or may show weakness in the foundation. Cracks in the foundation are often an indicator there is a problem. In some cases proper retrofitting, which might include providing bolting or sheer walls can resolve the problem. In other cases, the remedy can be way more significant and costly. These are generally the issues that come up and are known as the biggest deal breakers. A typical physical inspection for a home, depending on its size, can be anywhere for 20 pages to as much as 60 pages long. There are other secondary inspections that a buyer can also ordered by individual specialists. Inspections can include sewer, chimney, environmental, structural, drainage, foundation, root, plumbing, electrical, and even Feng Shui. It is important that you know the difference by those doing inspections and those doing inspections and repairs. Inspections can be very expensive but are very important. I suggest calling you real estate agent for more information on inspections.

without proper analysis of our unique town) and, suddenly, startled by what it did, tries to get out of its own way only to end up trashing the place? Or was it by design to take a wrecking ball and break everything, with the same intent to apply the latest textbook planning trends regardless of need or specificity of our town. Maybe it is using the wrecking ball with the intent of getting the bull out of the shop. Not a great choice either. Over-development, especially within the expanded borders of downtown that this council/ planning commission has been responsible for, is rampant. Try moving on Lincoln, north of the freeway, with whatever form of multi-model apparatus you choose. It’s not easy. But what can be done to stop the bull from breaking more of the china? The Council and commissions responsible have many members that are deeply, and apparently safely, encapsulated as members, year after year, with incumbency always leaving them with a foot in the door for that re-election probability. And more than one of those sitting Council members were political appointments that then benefited from that incumbency at re-election time. Pure politics. At least in this November election the residents will have a voice in limiting the number of years council members will be able to serve. And about time, as there are council members sitting right now that have been there for well over twenty years, are in fact on the ballot for yet another four year term, and obviously are a part of the problem in the land speculation and over-development that has caused the decline in our quality of life. Yet, if re-elected their continued approval of high-end, non-family oriented units, will see many more long time residents forced to leave their homes due to increasing rents and the loss of lower income affordable buildings, as smaller structures are torn down to build bigger and bigger. There is something wrong within the system that is allowing this to occur. I do think it’s ironic that some of the council members also live

in rent controlled apartments, and wonder what they will do when it is their turn to be displaced from their rent controlled buildings? For the past five years SMa.r.t. has been analyzing and writing about the development issues that are devouring our town, and questioning the approval of large scale projects by a City Council that cannot seem to see a difference between downtown L.A. and our unique beachfront environment. A council whose members seem to think lining Ocean Ave. and Ocean Front walk with large scale multi-story development is desirable, ignoring the LUCE, zoning limits, and the wishes of the residents, simply changing the rules as they go. So what can be done to turn this around…in a positive way…with a positive attitude? Well, the November election is just around the corner, and if one makes it their responsibility to register to vote, and go to the polls to vote, and vote for the change that can replace those incumbents on the Council, then we will all have maybe done something positive. A massive amount of development money will likely be put forward in an attempt to block district elections and term limits, and to re-elect two incumbents, and one new member… so be aware, and choose wisely. It really is up to us, the residents, to create the change, as it seems very clear that the current political structure at City Hall is going to keep doing exactly what it has been doing for the last multiple years, and that is the greatest negative we face. Bob Taylor, AIA for SMa.r.t. Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow: https://santamonicaarch.wordpress. com Mario Fonda-Bonardi, AIA, Planning Commission; Samuel Tolkin Architect; Robert H. Taylor AIA, Architect; Ron Goldman FAIA, Architect; Thane Roberts AIA, Architect; Dan Jansenson, Architect, Building and Fire-Life Safety Commission.

Over-development, especially within the expanded borders of downtown that this council/planning commission has been responsible for, is rampant.


Sept. 28 – Oct. 4, 2018

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SANTA MONICA COLLEGE INVITES YOU TO OUR

1ST ANNUAL

FACULTY JOB FAIR & OPEN HOUSE Friday, October 5, 2018 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

FOCUS

VISION

If you are interested in teaching at one of Southern California’s premier community colleges, Santa Monica College is looking to meet YOU at our 1st Annual Faculty Job Fair & Open House!

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Local Home Cooks get Help California law makes home-kitchens businesses more viable. By Tor Marom As of September 18th, being a stay-at-home cook is now a more viable profession in the state of California. Signed by Governor Jerry Brown, the Homemade Food Operations Act (AB 626), California residents will be able to start home-based food businesses with minimal start-up costs. Several groups have criticized the measure,

Homemade pies on display at the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market.

arguing that the increased health risks in “microenterprise home kitchens” (MHKs) are too great to ignore. The County Health Executives Association of California (CHEAC) has opposed the bill and were joined in their opposition by other health organizations as well as others such as the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), who believe that AB 626 allows cities too much power in setting their own regulations. The CSAC released a request for a veto which went over most of their issues with AB 626. “[The bill] restricts the county’s discretion to authorize these activities in the county by allowing cities to opt in without a county ordinance or resolution.” “While some permitting requirements and limitations would apply to MHKs,” the CSAC release says, “they are largely exempt from having to meet key requirements necessary to protect the public’s health, including handwashing facilities requirements, food preparation, and equipment safety requirements.” While home kitchens will be subject to inspections and be forced to meet specific requirements, the health regulations are far more lax than CHEAC and their allies believe to be appropriate for a food-based business. Despite the health concerns supporters of the bill, introduced by Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia, laud it as an opportunity for entrepreneurs by making the food industry more acceptable. The primary sponsor for the bill, the C.O.O.K. Alliance, has claimed that the bill will support

underrepresented groups such as people of color, immigrants and women. “The goal of this legislation is to reclaim cooking as a means of economic empowerment for the people who need it the most,” states the C.O.O.K. Alliance website. Perhaps the most significant way that the legalization of MHKs creates opportunity is by drastically lowering the startup cost for a food sale business, which the C.O.O.K. estimates to be $859, varying mostly by specific county permit costs which have yet to be decided. “Compare this <$1000 cost to the estimated average cost of $50,000 to start a food truck or the estimated average cost of $300,000 to start a restaurant in California,” the website says. “These high costs and the associated financial risks have pushed cooking into the informal economy and simply kept many folks from accessing opportunities in the food industry at all.” While the bill caps an MHKs annual gross at $50,000, this is still a drastic reduction in overhead costs that supporters argue will help bolster the industry. Joey Motulsky, a long time Santa Monica resident and student at Culver City’s New School of Cooking believes that the Homemade Food Operations Act also appeals to younger people who cannot afford to start brick and mortar businesses. “I think it's a really great improvement for those like myself who can't afford to just go all in and buy a storefront,” he said. “But need a way to be able started and get

Photos: Courtesy.

Farmers market vendors in Santa Monica stand to benefit from this bill.

your name out there without taking out a massive loan or going majorly in debt.” While permit and inspection requirements will likely be specified by each county in California, those specifications have not yet been made. Supporters are hopeful that the introductions of MHKs will spread to other states in the future, but the success of the bill has yet to be observed. Home food businesses will be able to start opening on January 1, 2019.


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THEATRE REVIEW

Getting Lost in the Translation

“The Untranslatable Secrets of Nikki Corona” misses the mark.

CCENTER ENTER STAGE S TA G E

With Beverly Cohn, Editor-At-Large

Trying to contact the dead isn’t exactly a new concept. For ages, grieving the loss of loved ones has driven people to contact psychics, mediums, and fortunetellers, most of who traffic in the desperation of the loved one left behind. Who could ever forget Whoopi Goldberg’s portrayal of Ada Mae, the charlatan suddenly becoming an authentic seer in the iconic love story “Ghost”? All this said, don’t get your hopes up as playwright José Rivera’s “The Untranslatable Secrets of Nikki Corona” on stage at the Geffen Playhouse, while a different, and could have been a creative spin on the same subject, is a rather silly, poorly written and acted play during which I restrained myself from leaving, but my professional responsibility kept me bolted to the seat. Under the direction of Jo Bonney, who did the best she could with a flawed script, the play be-

gins with a young woman named Abril poised to jump off of a bridge. She makes a desperate last phone call to her twin sister Nikki (both parts played by Onahoua Rodriguez) who doesn’t feel like talking to her at that moment, a decision that jump-starts the action that takes place in this interminable two-act play. Riddled with guilt, Nikki seeks help from a Brooklyn agency named A Better Orpheus Inc.,* whose business plan is to pair the bereaved with a person facing imminent death who will, on dying, take a message to the deceased family member. Maren, the owner of the business, played by Cate Scott Campbell, is a no-nonsense tough businesswoman who demands that Nikki sign a very complicated, no refunds contract and fork over the payment before she can assign a “traveler” to take a message to her sister. Nikki signs the contract and pays the fee, part of which goes to the family of the “traveler.” The grieving sister visits her messenger Orlando, who is in the hospital dying of cancer. Given the weak script, Ricardo Chavira does a creditable job in attacking his role and gives the best performance of the evening. After a mutual attraction is established, and a lot of getting-to-know-you conversation, finally, Nikki whispers her message in his ear, and that concludes Act 1. If all this sounds like it’s beyond the usual demand for the suspension of disbelief, well it is.

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REVIEW,

from page 11 being about whispering the message in Abril’s ear, it becomes a version of “This Is Your Life.” Orlando is forced to encounter some of his deceased relatives including his morally bereft great, great grandfather and his mom, (Zilah Mendoza) formerly a shady businesswoman who goes through stacks of papers trying to make amends. Hana S. Kim’s projection design supports this moment with a flurry of papers flying across the background, and when Orlando meets his brother Manny, (Juan Fran-

cisco Villa) who died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, hundreds of helmets are projected onto the back wall. Finally, he completes his encounters with dead relatives, whispers his message in Abril’s ear and asks, “Can I go to heaven now?” The sooner the better, I say. As far as the rest of the production values, as always Cricket S. Meyers sound design is spot on as is Lap Chi Chu’s lighting design with Myung Hee Cho’s set design almost rising to the occasion. On the whole, while some of the special effects were creative, others were unimaginative and derivative. Even if the technical aspects were outstanding, that

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tween the ancient Greek legend, where Orpheus descends into the underworld to rescue his wife Eurydice, and Orlando’s mission to deliver a message but without the promise of returning to the land of the living.

L-R: Juan Francisco Villa, Zilah Mendoza, Ricardo Chavira, Onahoua Rodriguez, and Cate Scott Campbell.

would not have saved this production. While I thoroughly support Artist Director Matt Shakman’s commitment to developing and producing new works, there has to be a differentiation between a truly actualized play and one that should be a workshop production and performed for a non-paying audience. All this said, José Rivera is a highly respected playwright and I look forward to his next work. *One wonders if there is a connection be-

“The Untranslatable Secrets of Nikki Corona” Gil Cates Theater at The Geffen Playhouse 10866 Le Conte Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90024 Playwright: José Rivera Director: Jo Bonney Set Design: Myung Hee Cho Costume Design: Stephanie Kerley Schwartz Sound Design: Cricket S. Meyers Tuesday-Friday: 8:00 pm Saturdays: 3:00 pm & 8:00 pm Sunday: 2:00 pm: & 7:00 pm Closing: Sunday, October 7, 2018 Tickets $30-$120, Students: $25 310.208.5454 or www.geffenplayhouse. com"www.geffenplayhouse.com

DBAs and LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. SS027409 Superior Court of California, county of Los Angeles 1725 Main Street | Santa Monica, CA 90401 Petition of: So-Young Mindy Chun for change of name. ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME To all interested persons: Petitioner: So-Young Mindy Chun filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. So-Young Mindy Chun to Mindy Soyoung Hwang 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: 10/12/2018 | Time: 8:30AM | Dept: K Room A-203 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: Aug. 08, 2018 Judge Gerald Rosenberg Published: 9/07/2018, 9/14/2018, 9/21/2018, and 9/28/2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NUMBER: 2018211971 ORIGINAL FILING This statement was filed with the County Clerk of LOS ANGELES ON 8/21/2018 The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as EQUANIMITY APPAREL LLC 345 BENTEL AVE LOS ANGELES, CA 90049. The full name of registrant(s) is/are: EQUANIMITY APPAREL LLC 345 BENTEL AVE LOS ANGELES, CA 90049. This business is conducted by a Limited Liability Company. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable. 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 ANGEL SCHNEIDER This Statement was filed with the County Clerk of LOS ANGELES County on 08/21/2018. 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 9/14/2018, 9/21/2018, 9/28/2018 and 10/5/2018. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. SS029330 Superior Court of California, county of Los Angeles 1725 Main Street | Santa Monica, CA 90401 Petition of: Lalove President for change of name. ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME To all interested persons: Petitioner: Lalove President filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Lalove President to Al Le President 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: 10/19/2018 | Time: 8:30AM | Dept: K Room 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: Sept. 18, 2018 Judge Gerald Rosenberg Published: 9/21/2018, 9/28/2018, 10/05/2018, and 10/12/2018


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OPINION

California May Soon Assume Proper Presidential Role TOM ELIAS Mirror Columnist

For all three decades since Ronald Reagan left the presidency, California has been all but irrelevant at the top level of American politics. Sure, plenty of ultra-wealthy Californians are regularly among the top moneybags raising funds for candidates from elsewhere on all parts of the political spectrum. But no Californian has had a decent shot at becoming President since Reagan in 1980. This might change in 2020, as several significant Golden State figures are now looking like candidates, while the one person best situated to run denies having current interest in the job. California’s long run of irrelevance has a lot to do with the timing of primary elections, where this state has often voted long after the nominees of both parties were pretty well settled elsewhere in a clear-cut case of the tail wagging the dog. The cast of characters occupying the governor’s office has also not helped. Republican Pete Wilson staged a 1990s-era run that was completely stymied when he lost his voice for weeks. Democrat Gray Davis never had a real chance, in part because of scandals at home. The Austrian-born Republican muscleman Arnold Schwarzenegger was ineligible. And many considered current Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown, a two-time previous loser, too old for serious consideration. But plenty of Californian Democrats are running right now, while one major figure is not. Most prominent among the state’s active presidential possibilities is Democratic U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, a former state attorney general and San Francisco district attorney who might have trouble pointing to a significant achievement other than getting elected several times. Harris has acted like a candidate both in very vocal and confrontational Senate hearings and by helping out candidates in other states. She’ll have a campaign-like book out in January with the wonky title “The Truths We Hold: An American Journey.” She’s even been attacked by President Trump via Twitter, offering prompt and pithy ripostes. There are also Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who has spent time in both the early primary and caucus states of New Hampshire and Iowa without visibly inspiring anyone, and East Bay area Congressman Eric Swalwell, once the youngest member of Congress and still only 37, just two years over the minimum age limit to become President. Swalwell, like Garcetti, has not inspired many, but may merely be setting himself up for the future. Then there’s Pasadena-area Congressman Adam Schiff, who is not actively campaigning, but has won admirers nationally for the style and content of his opposition to Trump as rank-

Photo: Courtesy.

Lieutenant Governor of California Gavin Newsom (left) and Senator Kamala Harris (center) are both California politicians potentially running for President in 2020.

ing Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee. But the best situated California presidential possibility is Gavin Newsom, the odds-on favorite to win the governor’s office this fall. Newsom keeps saying he’s not interested in a 2020 run for President, but who knows what he might do a year from now, if he’s had almost a year of governing California in potentially interesting ways that figure to make national headlines? That was how his time as mayor of San Francisco went, with Newsom delivering America’s first legally-recognized same-sex marriages and the first city with universal health care, a top Democratic priority here and in many other places. But Newsom, who started running for governor right after Brown was reelected in 2014, likes to begin his campaigns early, just like Harris, who declared for the Senate two years before her election, immediately after former Sen. Barbara Boxer announced retirement plans. Plus, Harris and Newsom are longtime political allies who share a campaign consulting firm and have never stepped on each other’s toes. So Newsom may bide his time. Still…Newsom running in the 2020 primaries as California’s favorite son would have unique advantages. If he could dominate that scene as he has seemed to dominate the governor’s race, he could get virtually all California’s Democratic National Convention delegates, giving him more than 20 percent of the number needed for nomination before the primary season even starts. No one else begins with that kind of edge. And plenty of politicians have run after first denying their interest. So California may have much more of a role two years from now than it has in many years. Which might make this state’s politics even more interesting after the November election than they are right now. Elias is author of the current book “The Burzynski Breakthrough: The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Government’s Campaign to Squelch It,” now available in an updated third edition. His email address is tdelias@aol.com

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Bridge Housing for Homeless Vets

Up to 100 units of temporary housing coming soon to the West Los Angeles VA. By Sam Catanzaro

Homeless veterans in Santa Monica will soon have a place to live while waiting for permanent housing with the opening of a Bridge Housing facility on the West Los Angeles VA campus. This will be the first bridge housing facility to open on the Westside. “None of us should be able to sleep at night as long as a veteran is sleeping on a sidewalk or under a bridge,” said Councilmember Mike Bonin who represents West L.A. “Veterans have suffered from generations of broken promises. Bridge housing at the VA represents positive changes being made. This partnership is a down payment on the housing and services the local VA is going to deliver.” This partnership between the City of Los Angeles, the County of Los Angeles and the Department of Veterans Affairs will provide transitional housing for up to 100 homeless veterans. The facility, which is expected to open in early 2019, will include personal hygiene centers, laundry facilities, 24-hour security and supportive services. Funding will come jointly from

A bridge housing facility will soon open on the West L.A. VA campus.

the County and the City and the Department of Veterans Affairs will provide on-site case management and supportive services. “I’m happy to be keeping our promise to the many veterans experiencing homelessness by taking this first step and building bridge housing on the VA campus in Brentwood,” said Los Angles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. “Last year, the Homeless Count showed that we had reduced veteran homelessness by 18 percent. One neighborhood at a time, one veteran at a time, we are working to ensure that every vet in the County has a place to call home.” This Bridge Housing facility will be temporary -- and not to be visible from the exterior of the

Photo: Courtesy West L.A VA.

campus -- as the VA constructs out its Draft Master Plan, which will provide 1200 units of permanent supportive housing on the campus. "Building 1,200 units of Permanent Supportive Housing through the Draft Master takes time and there are homeless Veterans who need services now," said Heidi Marston, Director of Community Engagement and Reintegration at the West Los Angeles VA. "It will take all of us to end Veteran homelessness and Temporary Bridge Housing for our Veterans in need will bring us one step closer," The VA bridge housing site will include two tension membrane structures in addition to modular trailers to provide space for sleeping, supportive services and personal hygiene. The construction

is expected to cost $5 million. Bonin introduced legislation on September 25 that would allocate the City funds and direct the department to begin work. Kuehl is epected to introduce legislation to allocate the County funds in the coming week. The facility is part of Mayor Eric Garcetti’s “A Bridge Home” proposal, which calls for a number of bridge housing sites in each of the L.A.'s 15 council districts. “A Bridge Home is about getting homeless Angelenos off the streets as quickly as possible on their way to permanent housing — and I am grateful to all of my Council colleagues for stepping up to meet this challenge,” said Mayor Garcetti. Bonin applauded the effort of the local residents in supporting the City and County's effort to house homeless veterans in the VA campus. Unlike the bridge housing project planned in Venice at the MTA lot, the VA bridge housing facility was met with wide-ranging support. “Residents of Brentwood and West LA believe strongly that we must keep our commitment to our veterans, and that land deeded specifically for veterans is the right place to do it,” Bonin said. “Local homeowners associations are eager to be strong, supportive partners to these efforts, and I am inspired and honored by their partnership.” The City of Los Angeles opened its first bridge housing facility in downtown L.A. earlier this month. Bonin has porposed a second Westside location, in Venice, an area with one of the largest unsheltered homeless populations in the city. For more information about the Bridge Home initiative, visit www.lamayor.org/ABridgeHome.

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Fasting: What You Should Know

cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose levels, insulin sensitivity and other health issues. I am now on a fairly simple cleansing diet (different than fasting) for a month, which includes yummy protein shakes and gross-tasting green powder made from veggies. To get that sucker down, I put a little water in a shot glass, mix in the powder and down it, holding my nose. Other cleansing supplies include a special tea that tastes a little like grass, a fruit-flavored energy fizzy (I put it in the tea to mask the grass-like flavor) a probiotic, (that goes in the tea as well) and a cleansing formula. You can also have one meal and two small snacks. I don’t feel hungry at all on this. After this experience, I’ll be ready to try a 12-hour fast. With any fast, you’ll probably feel hunger, at least at the beginning. But after a few days, it usually gets better. Fasting is different from dieting in that it’s not about trimming calories or a certain type of food -- it’s not eating at all, or severely cutting back, for a certain amount of time. Brief fasting isn’t likely to hurt you if you’re a healthy adult, whether your weight is normal or you’re heavier. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or you have a history of eating disorders, you should avoid fasting of any kind. Kids and teens shouldn’t fast either. When you’re not fasting, you can eat the food you normally would. Of course, you shouldn’t load up on lots of French fries. I love French fries. Why are they so bad for you? They are a vegetable. OK, a fried vegetable with a high carb count.

But studies seem to show that your health changes for the better when you fast, even if your diet does not. (That’s the first time I’ve ever heard this; now fasting is really attractive to me if I can have fries!) But alas, Wed MD says you should try to eat a healthy amount of food and not stuff yourself after a fast. Quality still counts. But even among people who eat the same number of calories, those who fast tend to have lower blood pressure, higher insulin sensitivity, more appetite control and easier weight loss. Woo hoo! I get to eat those fries. Ok, just a few. Web MD also discusses intermittent fasting; an off-and-on type of fasting. There are three main types that doctors have studied and people have used for weight loss and improved health: Time-Restricted Feeding This means you do all your eating in a certain stretch of the day, often around 8-12 hours. One easy way to do this is to skip one meal. If you finish dinner by 8 p.m., you’ve already achieved 12 hours of your fast if you don’t eat anything until 8 a.m. Since I am usually sleeping from 9p-7a, this is my fasting choice. Alternate-Day Fasting It’s sometimes called “complete” alternate day fasting because the time when you don’t eat lasts a full 24 hours. You follow that with one or more “feast” days when you can eat as much as you want. Even though the studies are very limited, the results suggest that alternate-day fasting can lead to weight loss and improve health. But it may be pretty hard to stick to it over the long term. Really, you think? Please, I get mean when I don’t get to eat after 12 hours! Modified Fasting This type allows you to eat around 20percent to 25percent of your normal daily energy needs on scheduled fast days. One popular version, the 5:2 diet, requires 2 days a week (not in a row) of 24-hour “fasting” except for a very light meal. On the other 5 days of the week, you can eat whatever you want. This could work for me as well! Studies show that fasting might help people with diabetes or pre-diabetes control blood sugar, improve insulin sensitivity, and lose weight. If you have either of these conditions, it’s very important to talk to your doctor before you make any changes to your medication, insulin use, or eating habits. With all the hype and ads for diet foods, medications, exercise, what really works is to keep the grub out of your mouth. Who knew?

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With Barbara Bishop It’s was recently the Jewish Holiday of Yom Kippur, and tradition dictates a 24-hour fasting. Most people I know that practice this tradition eat a big meal on Tuesday, sleep all day on Wednesday and then “break the fast” by pigging out on Wednesday night. What’s a fast, anyway? I consulted WebMD. Simply put, it means you stop eating completely, or almost completely, for a certain stretch of time. A fast usually lasts from 12 to 24 hours, but some types continue for days at a time. In some cases, you may be allowed water, tea and coffee or even a small amount of food during the “fasting period.” (But not during Yom Kippur.) Fasting is common to just about every major religious tradition, like Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates believed it helped the body heal itself. During Ramadan, many Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, every day for a month.

A fast usually lasts from 12 to 24 hours, but some types continue for days at a time.

This has provided scientists with quite a bit of information about what happens to your body when you fast, and the news is mostly good. Besides religious practice, there are a number of health benefits. First, as you might guess, is weight loss. There’s also research showing that certain types of fasting may help improve your

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September 21 – 28, 2018

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NY TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLE

SLEEP ON IT

BY NATAN LAST / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ

ACROSS 1 Outlaw 4 Electrical systems 9 2011 N.B.A. champs, for short 13 Bahrain bigwigs 18 Flap 19 Up 20 Jesus, for one 21 Hawaiian island 22 Tease 23 Nissan Leaf, e.g. 25 “C’mon, we’ll be fine” 27 1991 Disney heroine 29 Like many Rolex watches sold on the street 30 Establish a mood 31 Epithet for Leona Helmsley 34 Sunbeam 35 Persians, e.g. 36 Fishing tool 37 Fishing tool 38 Lovey 39 100 centavos 40 Took the trophy 43 Ear piece? 45 Admiring words 47 Gave drugs 48 Accra-to-Khartoum dir. 49 Buildup during vacation 51 Fishing tool 52 Troubles 53 Daughter of Anakin and Padmé 55 Right angle 56 Not on terra firma, say 57 Makeup of many a veggie dog 58 Watch chain 61 Like merlot and zinfandel, typically 64 Equal chance 67 Kind of court 68 Back cover? 69 Leather-clad TV warrior 70 In a footnote 71 Test that’s done in ink 73 Mary-Kate, to Ashley

75 Fictional creature whose name is Old English for “giant” 76 Up on things 77 Grandiose 80 Command to a dog 81 Heist target 82 Tide detergent capsules 83 New Left org. 84 Basis for a raise 86 Qualifiers 87 Paroxysm 89 Simba’s father in a Disney musical 91 Jets can be found in one 92 Allow to 93 Churn 94 “Mamma Mia!” song that begins “Where are those happy days?” 95 British royal 97 It’s often served on toasted white bread, for short 99 Cut 100 N.L. Central player 101 Builder of Israel’s first temple 106 Website feature resembling an odometer 110 Mate of a colorful bird 111 Hooch 112 Live 113 Western gas brand 115 Popular fruit drink 116 Debunk? 117 Sixth of 24 118 He might provide assistance after a crash 119 French article 120 Bit of salon detritus 121 Collapsed red giant? 122 Marina sights 123 Item that disturbs sleep four times in this puzzle DOWN 1 Backyard get-together, briefly 2 “So long” 3 Lofty 4 Environmental advocacy group

19

5 Documentarian Burns who’s the brother of Ken 6 Has a vacation day 7 Leave suddenly 8 Bunkum 9 Home to the 72,000-foot volcano Olympus Mons 10 Moisturizer ingredient 11 1980s cartoon robot 12 Islamic sovereign 13 Nobelist Wiesel 14 Item lain upon four times in this puzzle 15 Not farmed out 16 Chaac, to Mayans 17 Places 24 Domain 26 “Who’s on First?” left fielder 28 Jazz’s McCann 32 Start of the line that includes “wherefore art thou” 33 Approaches 38 Tippled 39 Government study, informally 40 Government aid 41 Beating by a hole, in match play 42 Rock star known for his 360-degree drum set 44 Parts of Mr. Clean and Lex Luthor costumes 46 Antagonist 47 J’adore perfumer 50 Concerning a pelvic bone 52 Certain Far Eastern fruits 54 Shakespeare title starter 56 Suffix with lime 58 Feature of a probability distribution where extreme events are more likely 59 Georgia, in the art world 60 Doctor’s orders, often 62 Future plan for many an econ major 63 Home of the ancient Temple of Artemis

1

2

3

4

18

5

6

22

9

24

42

43

54

61

44

45

57 64

65

77

78

80

100

96

101 109

86

91

95

108

81 85

90

94

Last Week’s Answers

92 97

98

102

103

110

104

111

113

114

115

116

117

118

119

120

121

122

123

65 Flavoring in the Mideast drink arak 66 Cat-meets-dog sound 69 “Skylarking” band 72 Command at a surprise party 74 Popular game with 162 cards 78 Common download 79 “Wicked Game” vocalist Chris 82 Any of the four people disturbed in this puzzle 84 Where Karl Benz debuted the world’s first auto

S E L F I E

74

84

89

107

60

70

79

83

112

59

66

73

76

99

58

35

69

82

93

17

47

56

88

16

52

63

72

87

15

39

46

68

75

34

51

55

67

14

26

38

50

62

71

13 21

33 37

49

53

12

30

32

41

11

25

29

36

48

10

20

28

31

106

8

23

27

40

7

19

This Week’s Sudoku Puzzle

85 16-ounce beers, slangily 87 Grammy winner Meghan 88 “Yes, quite” 89 Unsavory connections 90 Criticize snidely 94 Who wrote, “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting” 96 Discharged matter 98 Overly 99 Top

105

T R O U P E

U N S E A L

D I A L S T A M E R S

S E E V N G E T A N I U P U P A S Y A S F R E E A C E H L O C A A T S R E P D R Y

M E D A R O C A G T T E R R T E I T A S O U T E A G A S P E D I O N E D O Z E P I P E L I N S E T R A T E

M I L K D U D Y E H U D I R E I N E S

I R V A E S S M A O R N I O N A E R M A I T S T R E S R S I P O D

G R I P A Y N J O E T E X T

W A S P A L T A S U R R M A R M T O E U T T O S A T P O E H L A O F I M R A C E L I N U S T P E Q N T A T T U R N O T A U N Y M A S N E

E S T E S

S C A R

S Y R N I B N A G E C A T B R I O N I

P O L O S D E M O E D

A R T S A L M O A N N N G H O P O E T G R I T A R M I

100 ____-de-sac 102 Canoodles, in Britain 103 Clean a spill 104 Air supply 105 Setting of Hercules’ first labor 107 Wild ____ 108 Grp. with a saving plan? 109 Parent 114 Dead-end job, e.g.

HOROSCOPES ARIES (March 21 - April 20) – Talking about your dreams, your hopes, and wishes can now help to bring them into reality, providing you know what you want. TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) – This is an "out with the old and in with the new" time for you. However, with your slow and deliberate way of going about things, you are going to have some trouble handling the changes that are coming about now. GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) – On Monday, you still have time to ask for a raise in pay. You have certainly been working hard enough for it. A bit of unexpected luck is coming your way on Thursday, so put yourself in a position to get it. The money will be tightening up next week, so plan accordingly. You seem to be spending your time now on personal errands and the things you like to do most. CANCER (June 22 - July 22) – Your finances will continue to be satisfying for another month or so and there is plenty of time to add to your savings account. Keep in mind, there may be an engagement or marriage for you around Christmas, so saving some of that money could become very important later. Others are still demanding your time and energies. LEO (July 23 - August 23) – For the first couple of days this week, you have eight out of ten planets favoring you. This is an excellent time for you to go for what you want. VIRGO (Aug. 24 - Sept. 22) – This is an excellent time to take up new studies to augment what you already know. Repairs at home will have to wait until next month when finances will be better. What you need right now is a new, practical budget with which you can work. LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) – Ideas and plans are

flowing smoothly now, and you may have some travel in mind. Midweek could bring a surprise visitor to your home. This is a good time to catch up on paperwork and correspondence that has been neglected. SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) – It is only two more weeks now that you have to work hard before you can relax or take some time off. Everything around you is beginning to wind down and then you can make a new schedule for yourself at a slower pace. By then, a promotion or a new opportunity will be presented to you. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) – You have a tendency, for the next two weeks, to waste both money and energy. This is certainly not a time to gamble or to take chances. If you are into sports you must watch that you do not overdo it. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20) – The planets are moving into a more favorable aspect for you by midweek, so plan accordingly. The money will flow into your hands more easily and ideas will be easier to implement. People will be more receptive to your plans. It will be a good time to make proposals and/or sign papers. AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) – Decisions or plans you were not too happy with in October will come up again in a week or so and, perhaps, this time you will be able to sway them to your side. Problems occurring lately will not clear up until May or June of next year, so you will have to do the best you can in the meantime. PISCES (Feb. 20 - March 20) – You need to concentrate on one thing at a time and finish it rather than try to juggle everything at once and doing half a job. After Tuesday, you can make plans more easily and that should smooth things out for you. This next month is much better for you as the planets move into a better aspect.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO DELIVER IN SANTA MONICA, VENICE & MDR WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO DELIVER Deliver once a week, month or year IN SANTA MONICA, VENICE & MDR Contact: Jennifer Deliver once a week, month or year volunteer@mealsonwheelswest.org Contact: Jennifer 310 394-5133 x2 volunteer@mealsonwheelswest.org

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O L I V E T

R I S E R S

E N T R A P

T A O D E S M I S C

S E T H

S L I T S

A C E S


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September 21 – 28, 2018

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Unit SOLD for $6,550,000, the highest price in the history of the complex.

FROM RENOVATIONS TO SALES, WE HELP OUR CLIENTS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. CALL US TODAY IF YOU WANT HELP!

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