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Santa Monica Daily Press MARCH 21-22, 2015
Volume 14 Issue 112
Learn guitar in a day at SMC
Swiss Chalet-style house up for Landmark status BY DAVID MARK SIMPSON Daily Press Staff Writer
AVE The Landmarks Commission is poised to designate a two-story Craftsman with a
GEORGINA
Courtesy photo
CLASS: Marlene Hutchinson will teach you to play guitar in a single class.
BY JEFFREY I. GOODMAN Daily Press Staff Writer
SMC You don’t have to be an expert in particle physics to get behind Marlene Hutchinson’s string theory. She believes anyone can - and should - learn how to play guitar in a day, and she’s returning to town to help area residents do just that. In a 5-hour workshop March 28 at Santa Monica College, Hutchinson will aim to provide beginners with essential skills and give them a working foundation in the popular instrument. “You’re not going to be Eric Clapton when you leave the workshop — that’s not possible,” she said, referring to the legendary guitarist. “But there’s a realistic expectation that you can play several chords, several songs, in several different ways, different styles. In the first few minutes, I say, ‘Let’s be realistic.’ But it is very possible to retain what I teach during the workshop. And I have a good understanding of what it’s like to learn as an adult.” That’s because Hutchinson, who lives in Laguna Hills, was an adult when she picked up the guitar. She started playing 12 years ago, following through on a New Year’s resolution by joining a group class.
“I could not stop playing,” she said. “It was awesome.” Hutchinson incorporated her new skills into her work as an elementary school teacher and also began bringing her guitar to church. “About a year in people said, ‘You picked it up fast. Would you show me how to play?’” she said. “That wasn’t my mission, but it grew from there. And when I started doing private lessons, I had a lot of adults say, ‘I want to learn, but I don’t have time for a weekly lesson.’” The feedback led Hutchinson to develop a one-day guitar seminar, which she launched in 2009. She now travels around the country, offering the workshops about 20 times each year. Hutchinson first reached out to the local community college at the suggestion of a business coach who recommended utilizing the networks of established educational institutions to build her brand. She has taught occasionally at SMC over the last five years. The course is being offered through SMC’s community education program, which hosts shortterm, not-for-credit classes in a wide variety of fields.
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PAY CUT NEEDED SEE PAGE 5
unique Swiss Chalet look. Last week, the commission delayed a decision to officially protect the Georgina Avenue home as they are waiting for some documents to get straightened out.
In December, after it was noticed that the home, built in 1910, was listed for sale, the commission nominated it for SEE LANDMARK PAGE 4
Meals on Wheels West growing to meet increased need
Courtesy Photo
MEALS ON WHEELS: Pictured are the members of the MOW West Board of Directors along with Ellie Hollander, President of Meals On Wheels America. From the Back, left to right: Carson Bond, Don Spector, Tish Tisherman, Ellen Rabin, Rick Tell, Chris Baca, Angela Vassallo, Suzie Lockwood, Kevin McNulty, Ellie Hollander and Rob Sherman.
BY JEFFREY I. GOODMAN Daily Press Staff Writer
MICHIGAN AVE A few weeks ago, a Meals on
Wheels volunteer in Texas delivered food to a senior citizen on a Friday, then returned the following Monday to find the client lying
SEE GUITAR PAGE 5
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helplessly on the floor with a fractured hip, unable to get up. “Unfortunately, this is not uncommon,” said Meals on Wheels president Ellie Hollander, who spoke March 16 in Santa SEE MEAL PAGE 6