Summer at Annenberg: Swim Daily and Watch the Sunset
By Susan Payne
A unique, inclusive community destination along the Pacific Coast Highway of Santa Monica is inviting you to join the fun this summer.
Hosting beautiful sunset and beach views on five acres of land, the Annenberg Community Beach House combines a historic legacy with contemporary amenities including a splash pad, open seating, free wi-fi, beach courts and fields, cultural and community events and a café.
Operated by the City of Santa Monica, the beach house offers daily pool access, site tours, classes, volleyball and soccer courts for reservation, tours of the historic property, and group accommodations as intimate as 10 to celebrations for 280.
“We love welcoming people to the beach house for the first time and we love welcoming return guests. The beach house is a very loved part of the community. People really make their own experiences here, you can participate in the activities that we
have, or you can completely make your own itinerary,” said Nan Friedman, Annenberg Community Beach House manager.
The Annenberg Community Beach House property sits on what was originally developed during the Gold Coast Era of the 1920s by William Randolph Hearst for silent film actress Marion Davies. In 1947, the main mansion was converted into Oceanhouse, “America’s Most Beautiful Hotel,” along with the Sand & Sea Club, a limited-membership beach club.
By 1956, the main mansion had been demolished and the Sand & Sea Club remained. In 1959, the property was sold to the state of California. An earthquake in 1994 damaged all structures on site and the city struggled to secure funding for the rebuild, until the Annenberg Foundation provided a $27.5 million grant that paved the way for the site’s rehabilitation.
Today, the site has been reopened as the Annenberg Community Beach House since 2009.
“Santa Monica Conservancy offers
tours of the Marion Davies Guest House where you can really get a feel for the legacy of the historic site,” Friedman said. “There’s beautiful history to be told here, you can learn about the three remarkable individuals that shaped the historic legacy of this site; Marion Davies, William Randolph Hearst and Julia Morgan.”
Admission and events on the horizon:
For daily swimmers, the beach house pool is open every day until Labor Day on September 2. Monday through Thursday, the pool is open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday, the pool is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Daily admission for youth, ages 1-17, is $4; adults, ages 18-59, are $10; and seniors, ages 60 and over, are $5.
The next two Sunset Picnics, a beloved and popular event at the beach house, are Thursday, July 18, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 15 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Pack your favorite picnic dinner, fancy or casual, games and activities and watch the sunset amid other beach house guests and live music. S’mores for dessert!
LACDMH Offers Spectrum of Services for LGBTQIA2-S+
“Am I ready to serve everyone as I think I am?”
Providers of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) ask themselves this question, determined to address their own implicit bias when caring for the LGBTQIA2-S+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and Two-Spirit) community.
A spectrum of mental health services supporting the mental health, well-being and affirming care are offered, while the department pays keen attention to the constantly changing dynamic of healthcare related to that community’s needs.
To better support the LGBTQIA2-S+ community, the LACDMH has implemented trainings and networks within the facilities that support
employee growth.
The first is the LGBTQIA2-S+ Champion Network — a network of clinical and nonclinical staff at all levels and backgrounds that participate in ongoing training and education — identified by a rainbow lanyard as a safe person.
“Study areas of gender and sexuality are dynamic and constantly changing, and keeping up is the key to serving the population,” said riKu Matsuda, Senior Human Relations Consultant for LACDMH.
The second are employee resource groups, workforce employment training and anti-racism, diversity and inclusion training, offered to all staff, clinical and nonclinical providers, of gender affirming care.
“Historically, our communities have not had safe access to traditional institutions. In order to combat that stigma, we want to inform communities that we are here and becoming safer and safer,” Matsuda said.
Discrimination, prejudice, rejection
On the Fridays, July 12 and 26, and August 9 and 23, the beach house hosts sunset swims — from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
“It’s a great way to end the week because it’s adults only, the pool is gorgeous, and it’s relaxing.” Friedman said.
To learn more about Annenberg Beach House, visit https://www.santamonica. gov/places/cultural-venue/annenbergcommunity-beach-house or visit https:// www.annenbergbeachhouse.com.
Annenberg Beach House is located at 415 Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica.
and violence, in addition to family rejection, hopelessness, minority stress, trauma and other experiences are only some of the factors that impact people’s ability to access mental healthcare.
“If your daily experience is rejection, then the idea that you have a safe place to go, how would you know? How do you know there are providers that are there for you if you’ve only experienced rejection?” Matsuda said.
“Folks have been told it’s not okay to be who they are. They’ve been told who they are is wrong and they should change. We’re here to provide care and support for those individuals. We have trained clinicians with expertise in all levels of trauma, violence and affirming care,” Matsuda continued.
A recent TransPop study found that adults who are transgender are seven times more likely to contemplate suicide, four times more likely to attempt suicide and eight times more likely to engage in non-suicidal self-injury.
Something as simple as using someone’s affirmed name or pronouns
can make a difference, Matsuda said.
“People will say, I don’t know what the big deal with pronouns, or I forget their new name. Using someone’s affirmed name and pronouns are small steps to potentially save someone’s life, or at minimum, make someone’s day,” Matsuda said.
For a detailed list of resources available to the LGBTQIA2-S+ community, visit https://dmh.lacounty. gov/resources/lgbtq-resources.
If you are a victim, or witness of, a hate incident or hate crime, you can report the incident/crime by calling 211. To connect with the LACDMH Mental Health Help Line, call 1-800-854-7771. Dial 988 for suicide and crisis lifeline support.
The Angelic Voice of Award-Winning Soprano
The Angelic Voice of Award-Winning Soprano Golda Zahra
Performing her debut role of Liu in Puccini’s Turandot her debut role of Liu in Puccini’s Turandot
AT WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL
Friday, August 16th at 7:30pm CONCERT Friday, at 7:30pm
“A promising young opera singer.” -The Los Angeles Times
“Rising star of the opera world” -John Lavitt, Hollywood Times
Featuring Dream Orchestra conducted by Daniel Suk with 200 performers, Top Opera Soloists, Opera Choir of Los Angeles, and Han Opera Studio of China Conservatory of Music.
Featuring Dream Orchestra conducted by Daniel Suk with Top Opera Soloists, Choir of Los Angeles, Han Opera Studio of China of Music.
Artist Barbara Butch Faces CyberHarassment Following Paris 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony
The DJ and Activist Condemns Online Threats and Vows to Take Legal Action
Since the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, artist, DJ, and activist Barbara Butch has been the target of a violent campaign of cyberharassment and defamation. The attacks have included death threats and threats of torture and rape, as well as numerous antisemitic, homophobic, sexist, and grossophobic insults.
Butch was at the center of the tableau vivant of Dionysus, which caused anger and controversy among conservatives and religious groups after they erroneously assumed that it was a representation of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper, “ and insisted that the opening ceremony was “Satanic” and blasphemous.
In a social media statement, Butch condemns this hatred directed at her, her identity, and her values. She says that her commitments to benevolence, inclusivity, and love for others have always been central to her artistic mission of promoting festivities for all, regardless of age, sexual orientation, origin, religion, or gender.
In response to these attacks, Butch
is filing several complaints against the perpetrators, whether they are French nationals or foreigners, and intends to prosecute anyone who attempts to intimidate her in the future.
“I am extremely honored to have participated in the opening ceremony of Paris 2024 as an artist and to have shared my vision for the festival. My heart is still broken, and I thank you for all the love and strength you have given me since then,” Butch stated.
She expressed gratitude to collaborators, including Daphne Burki, Thoma Jolly, Victor Le Masne, Maud Le Pladec, and Thomas Anduze, for their trust and support. Butch emphasized her lifelong commitment to inclusivity and love through her DJ career and activism, believing these values are crucial even when the world falls apart.
Despite the cyber-harassment, Butch remains resolute. “I’ve never been ashamed of who I am, and I own it all — including my artistic choices. All my life, I’ve refused to be a victim: I will not shut up. I’m not afraid of those who hide behind a screen or a pseudonym to vomit their hatred and frustrations. I will battle them down without trembling,” she declared.
Butch concluded with a powerful statement of pride in her identity and her mission: “I’m engaged and proud. Proud of who I am, what I am, and what I embody, and for my loved ones and for millions of French people. My France is France!”
Golden Ager Series 2024
The Sandwich Generation: Caring For Your Family and Your Parents
Safeguard your parents’ independence and choose Safely Home Again
Institutional care can be expensive.
While that is an option for some, studies have found that over 90% of people over the age of 65 want to age in place, but 85% of that group has done little to prepare their home for aging.
Safely Home Again, LLC is a small business that assures you and your family has a home that is as hazard free as possible by reducing the risks of falls, slips and trips, and other frequent household accidents so that aging in place is possible for your loved one. Safely Home Again works to provide safety solutions through case management and home and fall safety assessments.
“We help adults maintain their independence and live worry-free in the comfort of their home,” said Madeline Fry, founder of Safely Home Again. “By implementing and utilizing our diverse range of services, you protect your loved ones, ensuring they maintain their livelihood and autonomy, and decrease their potential for falls in and around the home.”
Raised in Brentwood, Fry has built this company from years of experience in healthcare operations and management and has a wealth of knowledge from navigating nursing home administration and directing assisting living communities.
With a master’s degree in healthcare administration, she has extensive experience as a licensed nursing home administrator and executive director of assisted living communities, never missing a beat for details and the complexities of institutional care.
Safely Home Again’s Home Safety and Fall Assessment Tool is a personalized survey
used to examine the living spaces of your home, or any living quarters that need a safety evaluation. The 240+ point assessment tool, which requires certification to conduct, looks for hazards that exist in and around the living space. Hazards may include poor outdoor lighting, inadequate wheelchair ramp, unsafe staircases and more. Once the hazards are found, Safely Home Again provides solutions and vendors who can then be available to complete the actual modifications.
“Aging in place starts with hiring the right person, someone who becomes your consultant, advocate and family member,” Fry said. “Someone who can navigate not only the very complicated medical care systems and provide case management and lifestyle services, but who has the communication and interpersonal skills to work with you and your family.”
Knowing that safety precautions are in place decreases the chance of the middleof-night calls from the emergency room
and takes away some of the anxiety that comes with taking care of yourself and your loved ones, something that the “sandwich generation” knows all too well, Fry said.
Nearly 47% of adults in their 40s and 50s have a parent aged 65 or older and are either raising young children or financially supporting grown children, according to the Pew Research Center.
As “aging-in-place” becomes more of a trend, it’s important for this generation to know that professional resources are available. Safely Home Again is one of those resources that ensures your loved ones are aging safely — they are worth taking every precaution.
“It’s our turn to take care of them, to turn the tides,” Fry said.
To learn more about Safely Home Again and to schedule a safety assessment, visit SafelyHomeAgain.com.
Santa Monica Homeopathic Pharmacy Continues Decades-Long Legacy
Rise in Illnesses Causes More People to Seek Alternative Medicine
By Susan Payne
One of the oldest family-owned pharmacies, or “best kept secrets,” in Santa Monica is celebrating 80 years in business this year, bringing holistic health to the forefront of the city.
Founded in 1944, Santa Monica Homeopathic Pharmacy — a team of homeopaths, nutritionists, herbalists and pharmacists — is a small family business with the same values instilled since the World War II era: placing people before profits and integrity before income.
As a leader in natural remedies and holistic healthcare, current owner Steven Litvak continues this dedication to existing and new patrons in upholding this
80-year-old legacy.
“Part of our success is the change in our business model we’ve implemented over the last three decades. We don’t do drugs anymore, we focus on real health issues that doctors and insurance companies seem to ignore,” Litvak said. “In the last few years, a lot has changed, and more and more people are experiencing illness.”
Since 2021, Litvak said his team has noticed an uptick in illnesses, not pardoned by age: blood clotting, advanced autoimmune conditions, rashes from head to toe, enormous amounts of fatigue, heart palpitations, unresolved thyroid problems, unresolved diabetes, cognitive issues, mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, and more.
“Our goal when someone comes to us for help is to suggest other labs for their doctor to order, and get people clinically diagnosed. A clinical diagnosis is a way of saying you most likely have this problem, so the doctor can do whatever it takes surgically or with drugs, to solve the problem,” Litvak said.
“We do our best to find solutions that
don’t require surgery or drugs unless the situation warrants it — if the drug will help, is safe, and doesn’t carry a lot of side effects, it might be the way to go, but we do our best to stay as far away from drugs as possible,” he added.
Alternative medicine and homeopathic remedies have become more of a staple in household homes, but many people do not know that remedies outside of pharmaceutical drugs exist. As more and more people have seen their health decline in recent years, are unable to work anymore or leave their home, Litvak said the upward trend in recent illness since 2021 is concerning but they believe the cause is known.
“We carry supplemental formulas that are designed for specific diseases, complex formulas with unique ingredients. We’re not a health foods store or a co-op, we are more like a clinic that doesn’t charge by the hour, take appointments or do phone consultations,” Litvak said. “We just want people to feel better.”
Santa Monica Homeopathic Pharmacy invites people who are experiencing
health issues to walk through the doors and visit any of the board-certified staff. Collectively, the staff holds over 200 years of clinical knowledge in modern and alternative medicine, striving to maintain best practices from research and studies on alternative and integrative medicine. Virtual consultations may be available soon.
For more information about Santa Monica Homeopathic Pharmacy, visit SMHomeopathic.com. The pharmacy is located at 629 Broadway in Santa Monica, California, 90401. The business is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on Sundays.
Don’t let health concerns limit or dictate your life. We support doctors by finding real solutions, not cover-ups. A place anyone can come to find reliable information from our healthcare professionals, and it’s all complimentary.
Organic Real Healthy Foods and Snacks.
Professional Nutritional supplements for most health problems.
Family Owned and Operated since 1944
Just walk in, no appointment necessary. Some questions can be answered by email. In today’s world we are very much aware of what could be causing your health problems.
In Your Time of Need, Woodlawn Cemetery is Available
By Susan Payne
For over 125 years, Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary, wholly owned and operated by the city of Santa Monica, has served the community as one of the few municipally owned cemeteries and mortuaries in the United States.
For most people, the choice of final resting is incredibly personal, but Woodlawn’s caring and compassionate staff are available to assist you during the most difficult circumstances.
Woodlawn offers traditional burial and green burial plots, crypts, cremation niches and cremation graves. Service options can involve burials, cremations, viewings, funerals, and memorial services.
“Our caring staff will help you find the most meaningful resting place,” said Adam Lopez, Woodlawn’s Cemetery Administrator.
Much of the services at Woodlawn involves helping family and loved ones recognize and honor those who have passed on. Many look for personal ways to remember their loved ones.
“We invite you to visit this beautiful setting and tour our facilities. We think
you will agree that Woodlawn is a pleasant place to rest, reflect and celebrate life,” said Lopez.
In 2015, Woodlawn was officially designated a Monarch butterfly habitat by Monarch Watch, the leading conservation organization for the endangered butterfly. 2016, Woodlawn became one of the three cemeteries in Southern California to offer green/natural burial upon the addition of Eternal Meadow, designed with beautiful California-native wildflowers, plants and grasses.
In keeping with the City of Santa Monica’s commitment to sustainability and the environment, Eternal Meadow offers families an eco-friendly burial option. Green burials minimize environmental damage because no toxic chemicals, metals or cement vaults are used. Green burial uses a simple wooden casket or an organic shroud with carrier. Cremated remains are placed in biodegradable urns.
“Green burials hasten the return of the body to the earth while simultaneously providing nourishment to the plant life around it. It is a meaningful way to honor the life of a loved one,” Lopez said.
Planning a form of tribute for a loved
one is an important step toward healing. If a death has occurred while not under the care of a medical or hospice professional, Woodlawn recommends dialing 911 if police or paramedics are not present. Woodlawn can be reached at 310-4588717 ext. 1 for arrangements to pick up your loved one and guide you through the funeral planning process. Woodlawn also helps families make pre-planned arrangements for funeral services.
“Making arrangements, whether preneed or in a time of need can be difficult. Woodlawn’s staff is compassionate, knowledgeable, and respectful, so we can ensure to handle all arrangements in a way to honor loved ones that have passed,” Lopez added.
“We like to be transparent with our prices. We are required to have our mortuary’s General price List posted on our website, but we decided to go one step further and have a Comprehensive Price List that
has all the fees listed for the Cemetery and Mortuary,” Lopez said. Woodlawn lists a general and comprehensive list of prices at www.santamonica.gov/places/ cityfacilities/woodlawn-cemetery.
Woodlawn is the final resting place of more than 54,000 people including nationally known persons such as astronaut Sally Ride, cosmetics guru Merle Norman, and political activist and former California State Senator Tom Hayden. Some of the top Hollywood actors resting at Woodlawn include Glenn Ford (Superman, The Big Heat, and The Blackboard Jungle); Irene Ryan (The Beverly Hillbillies); Harvey Korman (The Carol Burnett Show); Barbara Billingsley (Leave It to Beaver); Hal Smith (The Andy Griffith Show); Ted Bessell (That Girl); Doug McClure (The Virginians); and Paul Henreid (Casablanca).
For more information, visit santamonica. gov or email woodlawn.cemetery@ santamonica.gov.
Green burial is a form of interment designed to have minimal environmental impact, especially when compared to traditional burial methods. With this process, burials are performed using a a simple wooden casket or a shroud made of organic fabric. No cement vaults are used, and no embalming chemicals that contain hazardous products such as formaldehyde are used.
14th Street, Santa Monica,
phone: (310) 458-8717 (on-call - 24/7) email: woodlawn.cemetery@santamonica.gov website: www.woodlawnsm.com
Eternal Meadow is the section of Woodlawn Cemetery devoted exclusively to green burial. It is a naturalistic wildflower meadow garden featuring diverse grasses and wildflowers native to California that display a natural cycle of flowering, degeneration, and re-seeding throughout the year. The plants selected also promote the presence of native birds and pollinator insects, including the endangered Monarch butterfly.
Each year, traditional burials place hundreds of thousands of gallons of toxic embalming fluid and millions of pounds of metal and concrete into the earth for perpetuity. Rather than add more imperishable waste to the environment, green burial nurtures the natural growth cycles of the Meadow and fosters a greater union with nature. It offers an eco -friendly process to return our bodies to the earth and a meaningful way to honor the life of a loved one. Contact our office for more information.
Award-Winning Opera Singer and L.A. Native Golda Zahra Joins International Ensemble Performing Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot at Walt Disney Hall
Golda will make her professional role debut as Liu at the Pacific Music Festival’s concert gala production
celebrating 100 years of Puccini
LOS ANGELES – Fresh off her sold-out concert spectacular at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica, LA Music Center’s Spotlight Award winner Golda Zahra is excited to announce her upcoming performance as part of the Pacific Music Festival’s Puccini 100th celebration.
Golda will debut the role of Liu in Turandot alongside a world-class ensemble
of 200 performers, including The Opera Choir of Los Angeles, The Dream Orchestra led by renowned conductor Maestro Daniel Suk, and a delegation of singers from the Han China Opera Conservatory of Music, headed by Chinese opera star and soprano, Yanwen Han. The group is traveling from China for the concert.
Turandot is Giacomo Puccini’s final operatic masterpiece, made famous by the aria “Nessun Dorma” performed by legendary tenors like Luciano Pavorotti. Set in China, the opera follows Prince Calaf and his quest to win Princess Turandot’s hand in marriage. To do so, he must solve three riddles. A wrong answer results in certain death.
WHEN: Friday, August 16 at 7:30pm
WHERE: Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA Music Center, 111 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles
TICKETS: DreamOrchestra.org or MusicCenter.org
“I am incredibly excited and grateful to
return to the Walt Disney Concert Hall, this time with Maestro Daniel Suk and the Dream Orchestra. Turandot is one of my favorite operas and Liu is one of my favorite roles,” said Golda. “This is going to be a magical evening with Operatic artists from all over the world, and it’s truly a fullcircle experience.”
Golda has been hailed as “A promising young opera singer,” by the L.A. Times, and a “Rising Star of the opera world,” by the Hollywood Times. She has performed as a soloist with orchestras including The Southwest Symphony, Hollywood Chamber Orchestra, and LA Opera under the baton of James Conlon. She is the recipient of the prestigious Los Angeles Music Center’s Spotlight Award.
For media inquiries, contact Shallom Berkman at 310-749-8879, or email sberkman@urthcaffe.com
Learn more about Golda at: https://www. goldazahra.com
Your Home’s First Battery Is in Your Car
SMa.r.t.
Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow
This is the fourth in a series of SM.a.r.t articles about food, water, and energy issues in Santa Monica. You can read the last article at https://smmirror.com/2024/07/ sm-a-r-t-column-food-water-and-energypart-3-of-4/ which talked about, among other things, the dangers of skyscrapers both to the City’s energy availability and to residents in a severe seismic event.
As all cities try to transition to that much needed clean, all-renewable energy future, two things are apparent. First, the fastest tools we currently have, in our sunny climate, to speed that transition is photovoltaic rooftop collectors and battery-powered cars. Second, although the efficiency and price of those two tools is slowly improving, we quickly run into the choke point that confronts all renewable futures: that the sunlight/ wind-generated power must be carried into the night. It would not matter if every building had rooftop (or window or wall) solar collectors, all that clean sun energy still needs to be stored and carried into the night where much of the electricity use occurs. It also does not matter if the clean power source is wind (e.g., windmills) or, hydroelectric, or tidal; the problem
is always the same: fluctuating power supplies must somehow be matched with steady urban power demands.
Batteries to the Rescue
This is where batteries come in. Regardless of how the power was generated, batteries carry that power into the future when the supply is less, or even zero, and when demand is increasing or even at a maximum. Batteries come in many forms and, fortunately, are steadily improving in efficiency and durability. Through a series of technological improvements and steady solar collector improvements plus increased collector availability, our City is slowly approaching this massive need for urban batteries. Essentially as more buildings have collectors, as more solar farms and windmills sprout in our eastern deserts, we will be able to generate more clean power than we can use at any given daytime moment.
Up to now, whenever a business or home, say on a sunny day, is generating more power than it needs at that instant, it can always “dump” that power into the adjacent (primarily fossil fuel-powered) grid. At night, it would hopefully recover that same amount of power from the grid. If that building’s daytime surplus balances the nighttime demand over an entire year, that building would be called a net zero building
The Grid as a Battery
That assumed building, by dumping and then recapturing power from the grid, is really using the grid as a faux “battery.” This is fine for the transition period when solar collector and windmill production is still small compared to the overall power demand. Currently, California gets an estimated 36% of its power from renewable sources. However over time, even with the added demand of the increasing numbers of electric cars, eventually, the availability of clean daytime power will exceed the power demand at that given moment. This sounds like a theoretical problem, but for 30 days in a 38-day stretch in March and April 2024, California supplied 100% of its energy demand from renewable energy sources for time periods ranging from 15 minutes to 6 hours each day (https:// environmentamerica.org/california/ articles/california-reaches-historicrenewable-energy-milestone/). Today California uses only about 10% of its rooftop space for solar power, so there is plenty of room for solar power availability to grow. Unfortunately, Santa Monica’s proposed skyscrapers, with their tiny roof areas often crowded with air-conditioning equipment, will not be a substantial part of that growth.
But regardless, as we increasingly meet all of Santa Monica’s power needs for longer periods of time from fluctuating solar and wind sources, there will be more and more intervals when we have clean
“surplus” power. We could “dump” it into the grid of adjacent states, but we would suffer substantial transmission losses, not to mention pricing issues. It would be better to store it locally for immediate nighttime use and seismic survivability. There is another significant advantage of local storage. As SCE transitions to timeof-use pricing, battery-equipped homes and business can partially or fully shift by using batteries, their peak use time to the hours when power is billed at a cheaper rate. We already have available pricy Tesla batteries and their cousins for immediate local use, providing that advantage and improving survivability.
Cars to the Rescue?
However, the next commonly available storage improvement will be batterypowered cars that can be used to absorb locally generated surplus power during the day and feed it back to your home or business for peak use shifting, for brownouts, and even for surviving seismic events. As previously discussed, there are some needed switching technology improvements for this transition to happen
seamlessly, but car manufacturers are already working on cars that will have this capacity. Even as they become more available, initially, they will probably never be large or numerous enough to power, say, your entire apartment for 24 hours and still meet their driving power demands. But with enough of them, they can provide an initial urban-scaled buffer to inevitable power shortages and outages. Paradoxically, cars, which used to be pollution and energy monsters because of their internal combustion engines, when
made in this most advanced electrically powered form, can somewhat mitigate the penalty of their overall spike in power demand. This is particularly true since cars spend a lot of their time stationary in garages where they could be charging and storing power. Their value as urban batteries can help our City’s survivability, so the City should start mandating that more and more parking spaces have charging capability.
The idea of using cars, with all of their faults, for both transportation and an interim
power supply, fits with the ecological mandate of doing more (in this case, two services: power and transportation) with less (one device). Regardless of how we feel about the future of cars, in our current urban configuration, they are still going to be needed and purchased. They will also have increasingly powerful batteries that could serve as both important survivability and sustainability devices in our transition to a totally clean energy future.
By Mario Fonda-Bonardi AIA
LA’s First Ninja Warrior Training Facility Opening Soon
By Susan Payne
The first dedicated ninja warrior obstacle training facility in Los Angeles is set to open at the beginning of August in Culver City.
The Los Angeles Ninja Academy will teach ninjas of all levels how to conquer uniquely designed, challenging and exciting ninja warrior obstacles that mimic those on the popular NBC television show, American Ninja Warrior. The state-of-theart 7,000 square-foot facility will have a soft opening on Friday, August 3.
Facility owner, Madelyn Scarpulla, who owns and operates two other successful locations, New York City Ninja Academy and Brooklyn Ninja Academy, is bringing
her sophisticated ninja training program to the west coast, open for all experience levels, ages six and up.
“I’m thrilled to bring the first World Ninja League sanctioned ninja training facility to Los Angeles, and I’m looking forward to creating another welcoming and supportive community of athletes to the sport of ninja warrior,” Scarpulla said.
Leading the charge is Coach Daniella Blanchard, who made an appearance on season 16 of American Ninja Warrior. Blanchard currently holds the #1 Adult Female World Champion and Strongest Ninja titles (among other medals) in the World Ninja League Season IX Championships. She also took first place in the both the Northeast and New England
Regional Championships.
Blanchard has been coaching kids and adults in the sport of ninja for over three years in New York. Now, she’s excited to bring her passion for the sport to the west coast.
Los Angeles Ninja Academy offers kids programs for ages 6-12 after school and on weekends, training for teens and adults, advanced sessions to prepare athletes interested in competition, as well as private lessons, corporate team building events, and kids birthday parties on weekends.
Special guest ninja coaches including American Ninja Warrior veterans will make appearances for private advanced training, as well.
Ninjas learn new skills and techniques
S.M.a.r.t Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow
Thane Roberts, Architect, Mario FondaBonardi AIA, Robert H. Taylor AIA, Architect, Dan Jansenson, Architect & Building and Fire-Life Safety Commission, Samuel Tolkin Architect & Planning Commissioner, Michael Jolly, AIR-CRE Marie Standing. Jack Hillbrand AIA
For previous articles, see www. santamonicaarch.wordpress.com/writing
for climbing, swinging, agility, balance, strength, and of course the iconic Warped Wall. Obstacles rotate each week, so ninjas are challenged in new ways every time they visit. Participants will eventually tackle obstacles with increasing difficulty and will learn strategies to conquer an entire obstacle course. Ninja warrior training is a thrilling physical and mental challenge an innovative approach to setting, achieving, and surpassing fitness and mental goals.
“In New York, we’ve always had to travel an hour out of the way to train in facilities, so that’s what really inspired me to open a facility close to city center. The more I researched, I realized there’s even fewer places in Los Angeles to train ninja, and that’s what inspired the expansion to the west coast. I’m heavily involved in the World Ninja League and expanding the league’s footprint in Southern California was also part of that decision,” Scarpulla said.
In the spirit of inclusivity, on the last Thursday of every month beginning August 29, LA Ninja Academy is hosting Queen Ninja Nights. For more information about the academy, upcoming announcements, or to register for classes, visit LANinjas. com.
