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The largest education strike in U.S. history ended just before Christmas on Dec. 23 when union workers and the University of California came to a deal that would drastically raise pay and benefits for academic student employees and graduate student researchers by as much as 80%.
After 40 days on strike, the Student Researchers UnitedUnited Auto Workers, one of two unions representing the striking workers, announced that they ratified a deal that would cover approximately 36,000 employees and extend into 2025.
“The dramatic improvements to our salaries and working conditions are the result of tens of thousands of workers striking together in unity,” said Rafael Jaime, president of UAW 2865.
“These agreements redefine what is possible in terms of how universities support their workers, who are the backbone of their research and education enterprise. They include especially significant improvements for parents and marginalized workers, and will improve the quality of life for every single academic employee at the University of California.”
The strike began on Nov. 14, just before finals. The union stirred even greater controversy due to their pledge to withhold grades until a deal had been met. Although some UC campuses extended their deadline for professors to submit grades into January, UC leadership urged faculty to complete grading without the aid of their student workers, even threatening consequences as drastic as withholding pay to those who refused solidarity
with the strikers.
The cost of living for academic student employees and graduate students in more expensive university towns, like Santa Cruz and Westwood, was a major motivator behind the strike. A victory of the deal was the sheer size of pay increases the union negotiated in response to their demands. In the new contract, starting pay was standardized for academic student workers and graduate student researchers across all UC campuses, raising minimum salaries and implementing experience-based pay scales for the first time. Academic student employees in particularly high-cost campuses like UCLA, UC Berkeley, and UCSF received an additional $2,500 bump in starting salary. Although some workers may see as much as 50 to 80%, the deal caused disagreement between union leaders who believed the raises were still inadequate compared to the cost of living in higher-priced areas.
According to the real estate website Zumper, the average
rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Westwood was $3,150 as of December 2022. Even with the new minimum salary for academic student employees at $36,500 for a 50% appointment, the market rate for rent in Westwood is more than two-thirds of the monthly income for a ninemonth contract.
Regardless, the deal reached between SRU-UAW was marked as a victory by leadership.
“This is a tremendous victory for not only the members of UAW Local 2865 and SRUUAW but for all academic workers,” said UAW president Ray Curry. “The entire UAW
family celebrates this victory with them.”
Congruent with pay, the University of California expanded benefits allocated to union workers and expanded anti-bullying policies. Expanded benefits include $1,350/ quarter or $2,025/semester for childcare, expanding paternity, family, and health leave to eight weeks per year, and a program for pre-tax transit assistance.
The University of California attributes the success of negotiations to SRU-UAW’s ultimate agreement to engage in private mediation. In a release made by the University of California on its website
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regarding the status of the strike, the university says they made “eight formal requests for neutral private mediation” before SRU-UAW “finally agreed to engage a third-party mediator.”
“The University of California welcomes the ratification of these agreements with our valued graduate student employees. The University believed that the assistance of a third-party mediator would help the parties reach an agreement, which is why we are so grateful that the union accepted our invitation to mediation,” said Letitia Silas, executive director of UC’s systemwide labor relations.
UC postdoctoral workers, who were also part of the strike, ratified their contract earlier on Dec. 9 but continued to strike in solidarity with the academic student workers and graduate student researchers. Their contract ratified a five-year deal that provided scaled salary increases, reaching an average of 34% and a maximum of 57%.
As of Dec. 24, the strike was over, and all academic union workers could return to their positions.
“This week’s successful vote creates the opportunity for unprecedented partnership between the University and its graduate student workers,” said Darrell Steinberg, who served as chief mediator. “By significantly raising the wage and benefit standard for its graduate student workers, the University is making a national statement. California is the best place in the world to obtain a valuable graduate degree. Thanks to the UAW for fighting so hard to help achieve this great moment.”
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“By significantly raising the wage and
standard for its graduate student workers, the University is making a national statement.”
Darrell Steinberg
Melanie Ramos, 15, died from a suspected fentanyl overdose after taking a fake percocet in September. Alexander Neville, 14, passed away of a fentanyl overdose in 2020 after taking what he thought was an oxycontin pill. Zachary Didier, 17, also overdosed in 2020 after buying fentanyl-laced percocet on Snapchat. In 2019, Trevor Leopold, 18, died after taking what he believed to be oxycodone.
Since 2010, the rate of teen overdose deaths has remained stable, averaging around 500 deaths a year. But from 2019 to 2020, teen overdoses increased by 94%. In 2021 alone, at least 1,146 adolescents (aged 14-18) died from substance-related causes.
The Department of Health and Human Services reported 2021 marked the largest single-year decrease in adolescent substance use since 1975.
This month, L.A County City Attorney Mike Feuer said LA could receive the first $1.8 million payment out of $4.2 billion awarded to the city as part of a national settlement against drug distributors McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health Inc., AmerisourceBergen Corp. and separately with manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
Over the next 20 years, LA will receive millions of dollars to respond to the opioid crisis, which has become increasingly more deadly due to the rise of fentanyl.
“Throughout the nation and across Los Angeles, the opioid crisis has shattered lives while powerful corporations watched the profits roll in,” Feuer said. “We filed our lawsuit to hold them accountable, change their conduct and obtain resources to contend with the impact of this epidemic on L.A.’s streets. This payment is just the beginning.”
In California, fentanyl-related overdose deaths increased by 625% from 2018 to 2020. In 2021, UCLA researchers identified that fentanyl contributed to 77.14% of adolescent overdose deaths, far outpacing other drugs as the leading
cause of substance-related deaths.
“That’s why we say fentanyl changes everything,” explained nonprofit founder Julie Shamash, president of the Drug Awareness Foundation, which she founded after her son Tyler died from a fentanyl-related overdose in 2018.
“Most of the kids that are dead from fentanyl — it’s not like they used too much of something,” Shamash said. “It’s because fentanyl was in what they used.”
When Tyler Shamash died from a fentanyl-related overdose, he had been recovering from a long-standing addiction. He was at a sober living facility when he died of an overdose. It was later that Shamash and her family found it was fentanyl that had killed Tyler.
“The No. 1 thing I want parents to know is never say ‘not my child,’ because fentanyl is killing anyone and everyone,” Shamash warned.
“It's killing longtime users, and it's killing kids that are trying to experiment.”
Fentanyl is a highly addictive synthetic opioid. Fentanyl is 80 to 100 times more potent than morphine and 40 to 50 times more than heroin. It is odorless, tasteless, and as little as two grains can be fatal.
The drug first emerged on the market around 2015. At that time, the primary use for the drug was as a cost-effective way to cut and make heroin more addictive. But as opioids like oxycodone, percocet, oxycontin, and stimulants, such as adderall and ritalin, became more popular, illegal drug manufacturers began to lace pills with fentanyl, too.
Many teens are obtaining these drugs through social media and online, even getting them delivered through the postal system.
Snapchat and other social media platforms are also popular platforms for dealers and customers to connect.
Narcan can protect against a fentanyl overdose, or any opioid overdose.
Narcan is an over-the-counter nasal spray that can help
reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
It is used by first responders, is needle-free, and is easy to carry.
Another way to keep someone safe from a fentanyl overdose is to use fentanyl testing strips. However, to use a testing strip, the pill must be crushed and placed in water.
This makes it less cost-effective for dealers and customers to test batches of pills, and there is no guarantee all pills you purchase are from the same batch.
“I'm not going to tell you not to do drugs, because you already know you shouldn't be doing drugs,” Shamash said. “But if you're gonna do drugs, make sure you use with a friend, make sure you have Narcan, (and make sure you have) fentanyl testing strips.”
Shamash said she thinks that, unfortunately, many campaigns raising awareness of the dangers of fentanyl are reactionary rather than proactive.
That is why Shamash appreciates SMMUSD’s program to
raise awareness before tragedy strikes.
Last May, three students in SMMUSD overdosed. All of them survived, but their experiences motivated the district to raise awareness before it was too late. In November, the district held a Parent Ed meeting where they educated district parents about the dangers of fentanyl, how their children might obtain it, and what to do in the event of an overdose emergency.
Shuli Lotan, a mental health counseling coordinator at SMMUSD, explained what else the district is doing to combat fentanyl use amongst the student population.
Lotan runs the Santa Monica High Schools Student Wellness Advisory Group (SWAG), which focuses on mental health and wellness. She said that the students, surprised at how little they knew about fentanyl, organized a short presentation for teachers at the high school to distribute among their students.
“Ideally, we would like to do some more general drug prevention education for all students and then get into the specifics on how to use (Narcan) and then actually distribute it to them,” Lotan said.
But there is more to SMMUSD’s approach than simply distributing Narcan. In addition to parent and teacher awareness, SMMUSD aims to roll out a more comprehensive student awareness campaign with the new year.
“The health and safety of our students and staff are our top priorities. It is our ongoing interest to provide our families with drug prevention and education and particularly information regarding the extreme dangers of fentanyl,” said former SMMUSD superintendent Dr. Ben Drati. “We continue to work with our community partners to provide parents, students, and staff up to date information and support.”
SAMHSA's National Helpline samhsa.gov
The hot chicken trend was just beginning to spread when Shawn Lahlehzarian introduced Los Angeles to The Red Chickz in 2018.
“I saw the opportunity with a new concept and wanted to bring something different to the area,” Lalehzarian said. “There were restaurants around, but hot chicken wasn’t as big an industry as it is now.”
Lalehzarian lives in Downtown Los Angeles, but his family has been on the Westside for the past 20 years. With his knowledge of the area, he created a business plan around giving people a quality experience and product with a unique twist.
To recreate the most authentic food possible, Lalehzarian and his partner flew to Nashville to do research for two weeks.
“We tried all kinds of different flavors and seasonings,” Lalehzarian said. “We got recipes from everyone we met including Uber drivers and the bellman at the hotel and were even lucky enough to be invited into people’s homes. We experienced the culture of hot chicken there and brought that knowledge back for authentic spices and dipping sauces and those recipes remain unchanged to this day.”
Their experience with the welcoming folks of Tennessee was then paired with fried chicken that was experimented on by eight chefs to make sure it remained the perfect amount of crunchy with the least amount of grease. This led to the success of the first location and, ultimately, led to opening their second in Culver City.
“It was the perfect place to move into because it has become the food hub for the Westside and we loved the idea of penetrating the market in an area with a cool environment,” Lalehzarian said.
To further the success of the brand, The Red Chickz has expanded its menu to better fit the needs and taste buds of guests who prefer more than just chicken or support a vegetarian lifestyle.
The menu is innovative because it offers more than just chicken sandwiches and tenders, serving dishes such as tacos, chicken paired with French toast, and cauliflower options.
The French toast sandwich and plate is Lalehzarian’s favorite because of his sweet tooth. One of his friends knew a woman in France who was kind enough to share her recipe with the restaurant.
The vegetarian options were specially requested by customers who wanted to be part of The Red Chickz community but didn’t have something on the menu to enjoy.
“This was something that was in the works for four to five months,” Lalehzarian said. “It took a while because we wanted to make sure we created a quality product with the right seasoning and sauce with the same crunch as the chicken.”
The Red Chickz is one of the few franchises that offer a vegetarian option in the hot chicken market. The main focus of the menu will always be chicken, but The Red Chickz wants to guarantee inclusivity and forward thinking.
“My mindset is to always be ahead of the curve and the best way to do that was add a category differentiator to our menu approach,” Lalehzarian said. “It was a direct market to a target audience. It has exceeded my expectations and the customers are great.”
Lalehzarian has been in the restaurant business since moving to the United States from Iran in 1998. The Red Chickz is already working on expansion with plans for more stores in Southern California and future hopes of adding Texas, Nevada and Arizona.
“We want to grow quickly, but we also want to grow smart so we will pick new locations and expand into other states when it is a good move financially and will have a positive impact on the brand,” Lalehzarian said.
But expanding is not their sole focus.
“I have a passion for this industry—the creativity, the service, the authenticity,” Lalehzarian said. “I want to create atmospheres and experiences that people love.”
10100 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles (213) 800-1835 theredchickz.com
By Kamala Kirk
The first Charity Pickleball Cup for a Cause to benefit UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital was held on Dec. 17 at the Westchester Tennis Center. The event was put on by Exit 14, a creative and production studio that partners with brands, agencies and networks to develop comedic content to captivate audiences and encourage action. Every dollar raised went toward decorating rooms of children and teens enduring long-term hospital stays, including comfortable bedding, posters and games.
“Blood, sweat and tears were shed this
weekend as 32 teams competed to be crowned champion at Exit 14’s first Pickleball Charity Cup for a Cause tournament,” said Adam Edery, event organizer and head of production at Exit 14. “Because of the tremendous turnout and generous donations, we were able to raise over $3,500 for UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, where we will be decorating patients' rooms this January. For anyone interested in getting involved with the room decorations, please reach out to adam@exit14.tv.”
Exit 14 Productions Exit14.tv
Chasen Greenwood had an exciting 2022, one that saw major life changes for him and created new opportunities for dancers, especially those who wanted to give back to their community and make the world a better place.
After making a name for himself as a dancer on both the west and east coasts, the Santa Monica choreographer, singer and actor has launched the next step of his career, the founding of The Realm Company.
It’s a project-based contemporary ballet company where dancers engage in community outreach, stage and screen projects, and performances of new work. It’s been a longstanding dream of its founder, a dream which finally took root this past summer and escalated with events for the rest of the year.
Greenwood is a longtime dancer and teacher at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. It was there where he held a fundraiser to gauge the interest donors and supporters might have in his idea.
“It happened so fast,” Greenwood said. “I hosted a major fundraiser for which I produced a 30-minute ballet inspired by ‘Stranger Things’ from Netflix. I’m very inspired by TV, film and concert work. We sold out, which I’m very grateful for. As a director, I was wondering, who’s coming?”
With the money raised, they were able to open The Realm, incorporating as a nonprofit. Greenwood wants it to be a company whose legacy is that they spread light, inspiration and love through abstract work and performances. He seeks to reimagine stories inspired by movies, television and theater and to create original works.
Shortly after incorporating, The Realm participated in an inaugural ballet festival featuring Southern California dancers and dance groups. It acted as an educational opportunity to introduce ballet to children from low-income homes, extending free tickets to those who qualified.
Five professional regional ballet companies collaborated
with other local artists. The Realm was featured along with dancers from Bolshoi Ballet, San Diego Ballet and New York City Ballet in a new work that Greenwood choreographed to original compositions by Taylor Briggs.
The piece, Greenwood said, “is inspired by love. The journey driven by love for two people to find their one heart. It takes time. Sometimes it’s a surprise when you get there, out of nothing, a silence, it comes.
Fourteen minutes long, I call it, ‘When Leaving Isn’t an Option.’”
He describes himself as a sensitive guy who loves love. The new work gave him an opportunity to talk about love.
“I wanted to create a very short ballet about the different trials of love and what love looks like to everybody, which is different,” Greenwood said.
Taylor Briggs has become the official producer for The Realm, collaborating with Greenwood to compose and produce original music for them. He is the brother to one of the company’s main dancers and son of Tim Briggs, a musician who played for Alabama.
Taylor recently graduated from Berklee College of Music. Greenwood said the pair have formed a dream collaboration, one in which they are able to send musical bits back and forth to each other and get each other on a visceral level.
“It’s such a dream to have a composer that just knows what you want to hear,” Greenwood said. “We want to actually start a record label. The goal would be to open a small facility where we have the record label and work with recording artists…and then attached to that we would have a studio so I’m able to work with dancers and we can rehearse there and also rehearse at Westside Ballet School.”
Since that initial fundraiser, Greenwood has worked on several other projects and outreach with the company. In October, they performed live as part of the 30th anniversary of “Models of Pride,” performing
at the Youth Music Festival portion of the day-long celebration.
“It offers family members, educators and professionals and all adult supporters of LGBTQ youth the opportunity to share their story and it includes workshops and resources,” Greenwood said. “Coming from Texas, coming from the South, I understand how difficult it can be for a lot of kids growing up in the LGBTQ world. When I saw this opportunity arise, I was like, absolutely, we’re there, 110%.”
The LGBTQ Center figures into Greenwood’s personal history and he saw the performance as a chance to acknowledge their generosity and to spread the benefits of dance to varied communities. When Greenwood arrived in Los Angeles, he struggled to land on his feet.
“For six months, I lived out of my car,” Greenwood said. “For a few nights at the LGBTQ Center, they gave me a cot and were so supportive and helpful to me. So, you can imagine, I’m glad to give back.”
Greenwood is highly committed to mental health, especially among dancers. He and The Realm are exploring work with Danscend, a new wellness company committed to spreading mental health awareness among dance education.
One of the co-founders, Michelle Loucadoux-Fraser, has extensive Broadway experience, performing in such shows as “Anything Goes,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Mary Poppins.”
Greenwood created an Instagram reel with them and may collaborate with them in the future.
“She (wanted) to bring me on as a guest to talk about mental health and the dance world and what we can do to improve it moving forward,” Greenwood said.
The result was a 30-minute plus interview where they talked about ways the dance world could do better at supporting dancers and educators and making the dance world a safe space.
“It’s a really cool program that
they’re pushing through and it’s very important for mental health,” Greenwood said.
Greenwood said he’s seen a major difference in the vibe and work ethic since he’s been a choreographer. The dance world has begun to pay more attention to mental health. He felt that Danscend represents well what he likes to do.
“I really try to keep a positive environment,” Greenwood said. “We want healthy competition. All my dancers feed off each other. They push each other very much, but I don’t do the sizing up or any of what I grew up going through.”
October also saw The Realm participating in its first fulllength feature film alongside such luminaries as Al Pacino and Charlie Heaton. They created a dance scene in the movie “Billy Knight,” written and directed by Alec Roth. Realm took seven dancers to perform in the film, 95% were original Realm company members.
In January, they’ll be performing in the Candlelight Experi-
ence in San Diego to the music of Danny Elfman. The Candlelight Experience performs music in stunning venues by candlelight. The San Diego show that The Realm will dance in is at the Joan B. Kroc Theatre. They will take four dancers to that performance.
Amid all the dance projects, Greenwood is meeting with a New York writer, Kacie Devaney, who is interviewing him in preparation of creating a film about his life. The plan is to have three actors playing the part of Greenwood: him as a child, as a teenage actor, and his contemporary self.
“We’re diving deep,” Greenwood said. “I’m bringing some old, old things out emotionally for this. I’m pretty excited, though these kinds of projects take a little time. She’s got a huge team in New York and I’m just thrilled. I finally get my life story out there with what I went through in Texas being a dancer and being a boy and the bullying.”
He says he has lately been going through his own journey
of forgiving things from his past and childhood, particularly when it comes to his father whom he hasn’t seen in nearly 20 years. Looking back, Greenwood sees certain silver linings. His father was part of a gang and when he wasn’t in prison, he abused him.
“My mom was phenomenal,” Greenwood said. “She did everything she could and honestly, the art saved my life 110%. My father even told me, ‘Had I been out of prison, I would have never let you do ballet.’ I really believe that everything does, to a certain extent, work the way it’s supposed to.”
Greenwood continues his close collaboration with Westside Ballet School. He offers three open classes each week for company members to stay in shape and for outsiders to come in and dance with the company. Within those classes, he said he can audition dancers and see them perform.
He’s trying to keep an open mind and fill his company with dancers of all ages and experience levels.
“I’ve had dancers who have not had a lot on the resume, and they are phenomenal,” Greenwood said.
One of his dancers at the opening fundraiser was straight out of training and that was his first official gig.
“I really just use my classes to audition dancers,” he said. “I don’t care what your resume is—whether it’s a little or a lot—it’s how you dance and if I’m inspired to work with you. Once I see you and you catch my eye that you’re picking up my movement, that you look beautiful doing it, and that you’re your own artist putting your own twist on it as well— that is usually what inspires me to go up and offer you a contract.”
His dancers include regional talent that have danced with the San Diego City Ballet, the Santa Fe Ballet and Mariinsky, along
with those who have commercial experience. He rejects the idea of having a dance hierarchy. He wants the company to be filled with people who are collaborative and work hard. He describes The Realm as having one cast.
“Balanchine was the same way,” Greenwood said. “He always said Corps dancers danced just as hard as soloists. As of right now, we are all one.”
Elise Filo, who danced with the American Contemporary Ballet for five seasons—including as a principal dancer—described the environment at The Realm as "extraordinary." She is one of the company’s dancers.
“Chasen’s charismatic energy is contagious and his artistic vision is inspiring,” Filo said. “It is really special to be a part of this new vision for dance and art. There are so many unique perspectives being brought to this company and it feels like a fresh direction that is filling a void in the industry. As a choreographer and director, Chasen is amazing to work
with—he creates an incredible environment that makes dancers feel free and empowered while also striving to grow and improve."
Greenwood has continued working with television and movie studios from Paramount to HBO and others. He has dancers who understand the complications and challenges involved with dancing for the camera.
Throughout the upcoming years, he’s eager to see his company grow and do more work, possibly do a tour and to collaborate with other dance and nonprofit organizations.
“It’s hard work,” Greenwood said. “You have to love it. You have to be passionate about it. The arts saved my life, so the least that I can do is to give back. This is what I was made for.”
The Realm Company therealmscompany.com Instagram: @chasengreenwood
Amid all the bustle of the Westside, the Inn at Playa del Rey is a warm haven of peace and serenity. It opened in 1995 because Ed and Susan Zolla wanted to build a small inn abutting the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, a place that they supported and were committed to seeing preserved. They partnered with Architect Gerald Li to create a place that centered nature and gave their guests an opportunity to experience it from courtyards, in the common areas and from balconies in their rooms.
In 2018, the Inn at Playa del Rey joined the Four Sisters Inn collection, a small management company that had been managing another Zolla property since 2008—the Channel Road Inn in Santa Monica.
“We started working with Susan way back with the Channel Road Inn,” said Tamara Mims, president and CEO of Four Sisters Inn. “She is still very involved at Playa del Rey and really didn’t want to fully retire. She’s a very busy, active woman.”
Because they had had a successful relationship with the Channel Road Inn, Mims said Zolla was ready to pass over the reins of the day-to-day management of Playa del Rey, even while continuing to take an active interest in the property.
“They are an amazing family,” Mims said. “They are really incredible people that are very generous and very giving. They actively support the Ballona wetlands. It’s a big piece of the hotel. She’s a great, great person that supports the community.”
Mims said that Zolla stays in touch with the employees, throwing amazing Christmas parties for them each year.
For guests, the Inn at Playa del Rey provides an opportunity to experience the wetlands in an intimate fashion. There are comfortable sitting areas that invite guests to linger and take in the wetlands and the wildlife. There are telescopes and binoculars along with books explaining what might be found outside the large windows.
“There’s no other hotel in Los Angeles that sits on over 600 acres of a nature preserve,” Mims said. “We have guests when they leave or come saying over and over, ‘I cannot believe I’m in Los Angeles.’ You’ll go out the front of the hotel and you’re on a fairly busy street—I mean, you’re in LA at the end of the day. But when you walk into the hotel, the viewpoint is looking out to the preserve and it’s just incredible.”
The décor summons images of the nearby marina with sailing pictures and ornamentation and blue and white color schemes throughout. The walls are decked with nautical maps and photographed images of the beach and historical events. The owners were seeking a New England beach style.
Many rooms have private balconies with a table and chairs looking out on the stretch of undeveloped land where birds, small animals and even—since the pandemic—a family of coyotes live.
“It’s just a breath of fresh air,” Mims said. "It’s really amazing. The location is one of the most unique aspects of it. You’re in
the heart of Los Angeles, you can walk to the beach and you’re looking out to no buildings or high rises.”
Guest amenities offered at the Inn at Playa del Rey fit in with the Four Sisters Inn properties, meaning very little had to be added when management changed hands.
“Everything that (Zolla) did and how she ran this hotel is still in place,” Mims said. “She is a very warm person who really believes in the guest experience as well as the employee experience so nothing major really changed, which is why it was such a natural fit for us. They were already doing an amazing breakfast, they were doing the cookies—when you check in you get two cookies in your guestroom. They have the wine and cheese hour.”
All those amenities are included in the price of the room, as are bottled waters, soda, coffee and tea—they don’t believe in nickeling and diming their guests. The property has a cupboard from which guests can borrow beach gear including towels, sand
pails and shovels and beach mats or umbrellas.
While the guest experience hasn’t changed, Four Sisters Inn was able to help better support back-of-the-house efforts such as marketing, accounting and bookkeeping and human resources, as well as add a few technological innovations.
“We brought peace of mind for her,” Mims said. “She saw how we ran Channel Road, that we were very fiscally sound and took care of the hotel just like she would have done in terms of maintenance, guest services, maintaining food offerings, training the staff and all of that. So really for us and for her it was a very natural fit. We just kept with her tradition, which was very similar to our own.”
Many of the staff have been with the Inn for a long time and are committed to maintaining the special character of the property. Mims said that two of their housekeepers have been with them for more than 25 years and were recently recognized by the California Hotel & Lodging Association for being outstanding in their
field.
The staff makes an effort to cater to all types of guests, whether they are business travelers, families or couples looking for a getaway. They are minutes away from LAX and have all the technology that someone needs for a working trip, but there are also rooms for families. Other rooms are designed for romance with a two-sided fireplace that can be enjoyed from the bedroom and the bathroom both—and the bathroom contains a romantic, large jetted tub and separate shower.
“People will just go relax, have a glass of wine, maybe do a little work or just catch up with a friend,” Mims said. “It has a very comforting feeling to it.”
Much of their business relies on word-of-mouth because they are such a small property. Mims said guests consider their property a best-kept secret, a gem among LA hotels. In turn, they try to make sure their guests feel safe, taken care of, relaxed and wanting to come back.
One of their more recent
updates to improve guest communication took place during the pandemic. They partnered with a company called Whistle who helped them set up a texting system that is integrated with the property’s software system. It provided them a way to have social distancing but still provide superior customer service and contact.
“It is by far one of the best things we’ve ever done as an organization,” Mims said. “It just was a game changer for us. Our team loves it because they were able to really have that quick communication and know exactly what is going on. If someone texts us, we have a full record of everything. The guest truly loves it because they don’t have to stop what they’re doing during the day, pick up the phone, maybe stay on hold if someone’s on the other line just to refill towels. Nine times out of ten, it’s a very quick question that
someone might have and our guests love it. We get such positive feedback.”
She said it has helped their staff feel more connected and better able to support guests and is one of the best technology features they’ve implemented. It lets them do things like tell guests their room is ready and they can check in early. They can answer questions about the property and follow up with warm goodbyes.
It is an innovation that underlines what the Inn at Playa del Rey is all about— creating a warm, unique experience for every guest that stays at this creative, warm property.
Inn at Playa del Rey 435 Culver Boulevard, Playa del Rey 877-590-2366 innatplayadelrey.com
Three-time WNBA MVP Leslie
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Husband of Psyche
“Just tell me”
Iraq neighbor
Lizzo “remake” of the Beatles’ “I Feel Fine”?
Dua Lipa “remake” of Katrina and the Waves’ “Walking on Sunshine”?
Snookums
Defiant admission of dishonesty
Thirsts (for)
Least refined
Early console letters
Accessory for Mr. Monopoly
Taylor Swift “remake” of the Eagles’ “Take It Easy”?
“__ have to do”
“Creed” director Coogler
Wimbledon surface
Petting zoo horse
LAX regulator
Find repugnant 54 Folder’s loss
Doo-wop syllable
To no avail
Get-up-and-go
Descendant
“Will you let me?”
Marvin Gaye “remake” of Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood”?
Direct means of access 67 Slow-cooked courses 69 Anthem played at
Blue Jays games 70 Steve Miller Band “remake” of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You”? 72 Conditional release 74 “Rumble in the Jungle” locale 75 Trifling amount 76 Cowhand’s seat 77 Media-regulating gp. 80 One-named supermodel 81 Most efficient 84 __ socket 85 Corn holder 86 Final request 88 Pet food brand 90 Allowing a draft 91 Jay-Z/Alicia Keys “remake” of Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York”? 97 Dicey 101 Connections 102 Paste-up pieces 103 Cola originally named Brad’s Drink 104 Dips for Easter 107 Keeps adding to, as mashed potatoes 111 Ed Sheeran “remake” of the Rays’ “Silhouettes”? 113 Lady Gaga “remake” of the J. Geils Band’s “Love Stinks”? 115 Actor Stonestreet 116 Yankee manager before Girardi 117 Big name in footwear 118 Resolves a tense problem, say 119 Ahi, for one 120 Irritable 121 Knitter’s ball 122 Station DOWN
Hangs loosely
Snowbank creator
Banana Boat After Sun Gel ingredient
“PLAY IT AGAIN” BY ALAN MASSENGILL & DOUG PETERSON ACROSS 1 Pesters online, in a way 6 Dorothy Gale’s dog 10 Wore
Using contemporary styles
Work in a park, perhaps
Snickered
Vein contents
“Anna Karenina” novelist
Scandinavian capital
Jewish campus group
AARP concern
Plunge
“Metamorphoses” poet
__ worth
Brightened
Like Oscar Wilde
With 45-Down, West Coast racing venue
Teen sensation, perhaps 24 Fries, e.g.
As a companion
Harebrained 32 Maroon 34 Affectedly dainty 35 Litter cries 36 Brief “Then again ... ” 37 Wing support 38 Suffragist Elizabeth __ Stanton 39 Faucet problems 40 Cries of dismay 44 Wisconsin city between Milwaukee and Chicago 45 See 17-Down 46 Tolerated 47 Medicinal shrub 49 Flora partner 50 Had a bug 52 Gush forth 53 Place for a pawdicure 56 Word with mail or box
57 Iberian capital 59 No longer novel 60 Dry red wine 61 Actress Thompson 62 Motown Records founder Berry 63 Maître’s milieu 64 Brownish green 65 First president with a Twitter account 66 Pares 68 Accurate 71 Tokyo-based brewery 73 “__ Fideles” 76 ESPN datum 77 Vanuatu neighbor 78 Family circle 79 Twine 81 Guacamole ingredient 82 Predict-ability? 83 Spacek of “Bloodline” 85 1941 Bogart role 87 Group pic 89 Italian dessert wine 92 Struggles 93 Provides (with) 94 “Julie & Julia” writer/director 95 Froyo topping 96 Made bubbles 97 In a huff 98 1960s jacket style 99 Nadal’s birthplace 100 Pet adoption org. 104 __ effort 105 Sandwich with tzatziki sauce 106 Site for a bidding war 108 Salon sound 109 Bi- quadrupled 110 Place for a clutch 112 Non-Rx 114 Musical arcade game, for short
Since the 1970s, the development of Playa Vista has been a controversial subplot in the greater narrative of LA. Its development spurred decades of litigation, innovations in urban planning, environmental activism, celebrity protests, and even an alleged political hit.
The Playa Vista Institute aims to preserve that history as they inaugurated the organization on Oct. 25 with a private film screening of their new documentary, “Playa Vista: A Four-Decade Overnight Success.”
Mark Huffman, president of the Playa Vista Institute’s Board of Directors, said the title came from an interviewee, who said it seemed like Playa Vista appeared overnight. In reality, Huffman says, it was over 40 years of hard work and political gymnastics that brought Playa Vista to where it is today.
The Playa Vista Institute’s documentary goes through the area’s history back to the Gabrielinos/Tongva, the Native Americans who occupied the historical Ballona Wetlands before Spanish settlements.
Terry Conner, another of Playa Vista Institute’s Board of Directors, explains that Playa Vista would not be what it is today without the famous Howard Hughes, who purchased the land just in 1940 to build an airfield.
Before his death in 1976, Hughes wanted to leave the property largely uncultivated, as his interests lay in aviation. However, those who inherited the property identified Playa Vista as an ideal plot of land for development. The Summa Corporation, a separate company controlling much of Hughes’ business interests, swiftly began to draw up plans to develop the property.
Summa originally conceived Playa Vista as primarily a commercial area, with 6 million square feet of office space, several high-rise buildings, and a million square feet of retail space. The plan would develop
nearly all of the 1,000-acre property and reduce the Ballona Wetlands to a mere 170 acres.
When Summa’s plans for development went public in 1980, they were not well received by the surrounding community. Traffic concerns reigned paramount and homeowners were concerned high-rise buildings would block their views of the oceans.
Environmental groups, like Friends of Ballona Wetlands, were also in opposition to the plan.
At the time, Pat Russel was the LA City Councilmember representing Playa Vista and the surrounding communities. Russel wanted the city to annex Playa Vista and for the development to take place under the supervision of the city government, an effort that was ultimately successful. Russel’s support of Summa’s unpopular plan led local groups to back a new candidate in 1984, Ruth Galanter, an urban planner from New York living in Venice.
The election went into a runoff after Russel didn’t receive the majority vote. Galanter said it was at this point she had to face
the idea that she may win the election. That was when someone broke into her house and stabbed her in the throat.
“I believe it was a political setup. Everybody in Venice believed it was a setup. Venice turned out to vote for me in double the numbers when they wouldn’t normally turn down for anybody,” Galanter said. The assault and the construction of a high-rise building secured both the Venice and Westchester votes for Galanter, granting her the election.
Environmentalists vs the new face of Playa Vista
Following the political upheaval of the late 80s, Summa wanted to lend a new face to the development by bringing in McGuire Thomas Partners to lead the development process. McGuire Thomas quickly realized that commercial development was not well suited to the area and shifted the project in the direction of community development.
In 1990, McGuire Thomas worked with Galanter and the Friends of Ballona Wetlands to eliminate a pending lawsuit the group had against the development by making a settlement that would call for a revised plan to develop Playa Vista.
The settlement allowed McGuire and Thomas to shift the development to primarily residential complexes and expand the area allocated for Ballona Wetlands to 340 acres.
The new plan also committed $18 million to create a 24-acre freshwater marsh, a 26-acre riparian corridor and dedicated $750,000 to fund a restoration program to restore salt water flows from Ballona Creek to the salt pans.
But the suffering economy of the mid-90s made this plan difficult to execute. Ultimately, Galanter approached the Trust for Public Land in pursuit of a purchasing option for the Ballona Wetlands that would grant the state ownership over approximately 600 acres of the property, scaling the McGuire Thomas plans to half its original size.
With the money made from the sale of the Ballona Wetlands, the development of Playa Vista could finally move forward. In 2003, the project broke ground as McGuire Thomas worked to change the narrative of Playa Vista into one of sustainability where people could live, work, and shop without getting into their cars.
After the first residents moved in, the developers quickly realized that their intentions for Playa Vista to be a community of young professionals and
retirees were not coming to fruition; residents were instead deciding to stay in Playa Vista to build their families. Soon after, LA Unified School District decided to build Playa Vista Elementary School Playa Vista also became part of the technology sector’s move to the westside, which became known as Silicon Beach. Although the developers failed to complete a deal with DreamWorks to build a studio, several other production houses set up shop in Playa Vista. In the 2010s, Yahoo, Microsoft, YouTube and Facebook all acquired property in the area.
In 2012, Brookfield Residential bought the Playa Vista development for $265 million. They completed the project as primarily luxury housing condos. According to rental listing sites, the median rent in Playa Vista is $4,632, and the average price of a home is $1.16 million at $749 per square foot.
Huffman said the Playa Vista Institute has two goals: “The first one is the historical mission to document, organize, and share the history. The second one is recognizing the goal for Playa Vista to be a more sustainable community.”
The Playa Vista institute aims to be an advocate for that mission moving forward.
The institute’s website went live approximately one week after the premiere screening of the documentary. The reason the institute has kept its existence quiet until now was that Huffman didn’t believe there was anything to announce until the documentary was complete, though Playa Vista’s controversial past was frequently alluded to at the premiere screening.
In the future, the Playa Vista Institute hopes to have a physical location where the public can access archives and records relating to the creation of Playa Vista, but for now, they are focusing on building out their online resources and providing digital access to any archives they currently possess.
Playa Vista Institute playavistainstitute.com
Expressive
frontmanCooper Bombadil, talented bassist and keyboardist Brandon Valerino, and energetic Mike Gattshall make up the band Westerner. They are based out of Mar Vista/ Venice, which is also where their band formed and blossomed into what it is today.
“Our band grew up here, the Westside is where the support for Westerner originated,” Bombadil said.
The power trio were already playing before becoming one but their talents and skills have only grown since officially starting Westerner. The band, inspired by old concepts with new ideas, works together to modernize their sound.
“We came up with ‘Westerner’ because that originally meant someone on the frontier, but the frontier that we are referring to is the modern-day frontier, which we find internally and in all forms of space,” Bombadil said.
Westerner has been playing together for years, but it was the time spent creating their second album, “Kali Yuga Kama Sutra,” that sealed the deal. The album has 10 tracks that allow expression for mysterious characters, a dream-like state, and internal self-growth through the story of the collection of songs. The name was inspired by a line of lyrics in one of the band's songs called “Bad Karma,” and was finally picked as the album name because it represented the concept of the music well.
“Kali Yuga Kama Sutra plays on opposites and is paired with things bouncing off each other to create what we don't expect,” Bombadil said. “We love surprising ourselves with what we create. We call them ‘happy accidents.’”
Finding others who share the same vision of sound, especially with music this specific, can be difficult but each member brings their own flare.
“I learned how to electronically add drum sounds with a soundboard to modernize the sound,” Gattshall said.
“And I invested in a bass synthesizer to widen the horizon of different sound opportunities,” Valerino added.
Each member has their own preference for their favorite of their music.
“'Say My Name’ is the song that puts me in my feels,” Gattshall said. “I really get into it when we perform that song.”
“For me it’s ‘Yesferatu’ because that song holds memories for me,” Valerino said. “We went up to a cabin one time for just a random trip and ended up creating music while we were up there and really solidified our bond as co-creatives and co-writers.”
“’Hell is Dull’ is a song I enjoy performing, but I also really connect with the song ‘Frog,’ Bombadil said. “We created it years ago in Oregon and it just is what it is. It is proof of the magic realism of night dramas and fantasies. There are powerful metaphors and I get to express my authentic weirdness.”
All three agreed that one of their favorite things is looking out at the “glowing” audience and seeing the impact their music has on each individual.
“It’s different and weird,” Bombadil said. “Either way, I don’t want to tell people how to feel or what to think. However they interpret it, is what they need and is what they should internally listen to.”
The band is partnered with
Coconut Spaceship Records and Junk Food PR. They are currently focusing on continuing to create music while promoting the recent releases. This includes a new fun music video for “Hell is Dull.” The band works hard to produce quality video while still being resourceful and conscious of materials, equipment, cost, etc.
One of their biggest projects has been creating an animated psychedelic movie for their first album, a concept album called “Unreal City,” which is also available on all streaming platforms.
During their exploration of the space between psychedelia and neo-synth pop and the lacing of rock ‘n’ roll, each band member has found their purpose for all the hard work they put in, both together and individually.
“My favorite part is the creative aspect,” Gattshall said. “Seeing everything come together makes my brain happy and gives me such good energy for when we get to perform our creations.”
“And that’s my favorite part, the performing,” Valerino said. “I am proud of this band and our sound and what we do. It’s a great feeling to have your music received. I am very blessed.”
Bombadil added, “I love all of it but I have to go with being able to express what I’m normally afraid to show. Writing the songs gives me the power to express the weird inner parts of me.”
To stay up-to-date on all things Westerner, follow them on Instagram: @westernerband @hermannhesseslonglostgrandson @thebrandonsaxman @ gattshattack
The 10-track album is an exploration into the space between psychedelia and neo-synth pop laced with rock ‘n’ roll.
Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. is
hosting ice yoga classes at the Ice at Santa Monica ice rink this month. Unless it rains, class will be held on Thursday, Jan. 5 and Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 9 a.m. Classes will be led by instructor Austin Hollingshead, a seasoned yoga instructor who has worked for brands such as Alo and Equinox.
"Ice yoga is proven to have many health benefits, from building muscle to improving focus and boosting the immune system," said Ariana Gomez, DTSM Inc. Program & Partnerships Manager. "When the body is exposed to low temperatures, it releases endorphins and allows the body to burn more calories as it works to maintain its internal temperature."
Gomez added, "Participants can expect a morning of healing yoga, as the class will start with a focus on the core and progress to full-body movements to keep blood flowing. Although there are
many options to ice skate throughout the region, ice yoga is a unique experience being offered at the Santa Monica ice rink. It’s a fun way for participants to get on the ice and spend the morning moving in a way they typically wouldn’t."
People of all skill levels are welcome. The rink remains open daily through Jan. 18, 2023 from noon to 10 p.m. DTSM, Inc. looks forward to continuing the tradition of Ice at Santa Monica next winter.
Music fans are also invited to “Skating a Fine Line: Harry’s (Ice) House” at the rink on Thursday, Jan. 12 from 7 to 10 p.m. The Harry Styles-themed event welcomes guests of all ages and will feature a selection of family-friendly pop songs. Participants are encouraged to wear their best pop star attire and spend the evening getting groovy and skating in style.
Ice Yoga @ Ice at Santa Monica downtownsm.com/iceyoga
Completely updated, this crisp and clean three-bedroom Westchester home shines with remarkable attention to detail including hardwood flooring throughout, new paint and windows and welcoming landscaping. The spacious floor plan is ideal for hosting and has French doors to the back porch for that SoCal indoor-outdoor touch. The generous kitchen offers ample workspace, sunlight, Professional Series DCS cooktop with ceiling hood, cooking triangle for appliances and exposed bulb pendant chandelier illuminating the expansive dining area. The primary bedroom delivers a calm space with French door access to the remote controlled spa and covered patio while the two guest bedrooms include large closets, plenty of natural light and a fully remodeled bathroom. Curated with the finest landscaping, the backyard features a gazebo-style covered sitting area with natural gas tap and remote controlled lighting. Enjoy nearby ocean beaches, shops and restaurants, easy freeway access, or the serene privacy of relaxing in this stellar home.
If you’re thinking of buying a house, you might be wondering if you need an asbestos survey. The answer is: it depends. If the house was built before 1980, there’s a good chance that it contains asbestos in some form or another. An asbestos survey will help identify any asbestoscontaining materials (ACMs) so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not to proceed with the purchase. Even if the house doesn’t contain ACMs, though, it’s always a good idea to have a professional inspect the property before making such a major investment.
Asbestos is a dangerous material composed of naturally-occurring mineral fibers that are toxic when disturbed. Asbestos has been used extensively as a building material due to its highly fire-resistant characteristics and its ability to insulate. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other health issues, so the use of asbestos in construction is now tightly regulated and rarely used. It’s important to be aware of the health risks associated with asbestos and understand that any disturbance or deterioration can release harmful particles
into the air and cause potentially serious medical conditions.
Many home buyers forget to factor in the cost of an asbestos survey when searching for their new home, but it’s a crucial step when making one of the biggest investments of your life. Any house built before 2000 should have an asbestos survey to check for any potential presence of asbestos. If the survey finds evidence of asbestos, you will need to hire a specialist to identify and remove it so that you can sleep soundly in your new home. Don’t forget this important task - otherwise, you may find yourself in a sticky situation down the track, particularly in relation to your health, or if you are looking to extend or modify the property. The presence of asbestos can also negatively affect the value of your home.
An asbestos survey can take anywhere from a few hours to several days depending on the complexity of the building and its contents. Although it may seem like a long time, it’s essential for a thorough survey to be done
so any dangerous asbestos materials can be identified and removed safely. Of course, different buildings bring with them different challenges when it comes to identifying asbestos and therefore surveys require different levels of resources and time allocated in order for them to be conducted effectively. That’s why if you want your building to be properly surveyed for asbestos, make sure the person conducting the survey has enough time to do a comprehensive job.It’s worth setting aside plenty of extra time to ensure nothing is missed.
Finding a qualified asbestos surveyor for a job in your area can seem overwhelming, but the process is much easier than you might expect. Start by doing some research to try and identify reputable companies or individuals who specialize in asbestos surveying. Check out third-party review sites to see what past clients have said about the company’s services, and don’t be afraid to contact them with any questions that you may have. When speaking with potential surveyors, make sure to ask
specific questions related to their qualifications as well as their experience working with asbestos specifically. You’ll also want to make sure they are knowledgeable about safety measures that must be taken when dealing with asbestos, and ensure that they are properly insured before signing on the dotted line. Doing the proper due diligence can save you time and money in the long run and ensure there is no exposure risk during the project.
Asbestos is a dangerous material that can be found in many homes built before the 1980s. If you’re thinking about buying an older home, it’s important to have an asbestos survey done first to ensure your safety. These surveys aren’t expensive or time-consuming, and they could save your life. When hiring an asbestos surveyor, be sure to ask for references and check their qualifications carefully. With a little bit of research, you can easily find a qualified professional who will give you the peace of mind you need when purchasing an older home.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022268202
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: KEEVE PRODUCTIONS . 928 Marco Place Venice, CA 90291. COUNTY: Los Angeles. REGISTERED OWNER(S) Frederick Keeve, 928 Marco Place Venice, CA 90291. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY an Individual. The date registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 01/1996. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant know to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000)).
REGISTRANT/CO RP/ LLC NAME: Frederick Keeve. TITLE: Owner. This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: December 13, 2022. 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 Pro-
fessions code). Publish: Published: The Argonaut News 0105/23, 0112/23
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022280179 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: MARINA DEL REY SUMMER SYMPHONY. 7877 Yorktown Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90045 . COUNTY: Los Angeles. Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number: 0553733. REGISTERED OWNER(S) Socal Symphony Society, 7877 Yorktown Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90045 . State of Incorporation or LLC: California. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY a Corporation. The date registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant know to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000)). REGISTRANT/CO RP/LLC
NAME: David Bromberg. TITLE: Treasurer Corp or LLC Name: Socal Symphony Society. This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: December 30, 2022. 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).
Published: The Argonaut News 0105/23, 0112/23, 0119/23, 0126/23
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022280183 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: CULVER CITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. 7877 Yorktown Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90045 . COUNTY: Los Angeles. Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number: 0553733. REGISTERED OWNER(S) Socal Symphony Society, 7877 Yorktown Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90045 . State of Incorporation or LLC: California. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY a Corporation. The date registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant know to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000)).
REGISTRANT/CO
RP/LLC NAME: David Bromberg. TITLE: Treasurer Corp or LLC Name: Socal Symphony Society. This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: December 30, 2022. 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).
Published: The Argonaut News 0105/23,
0112/23, 0119/23, 0126/23
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022268202
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: KEEVE PRODUCTIONS . 928 Marco Place Venice, CA 90291. COUNTY: Los Angeles. REGISTERED OWNER(S) Frederick Keeve, 928 Marco Place Venice, CA 90291. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY an Individual. The date registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 01/1996. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant know to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000)).
REGISTRANT/CO RP/ LLC NAME: Frederick Keeve. TITLE: Owner. This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: December 13, 2022. 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).
Published: The Argonaut News 0105/23, 0112/23
TY OF LOS ANGELES.
Petition of MY TRINH SOOC , for Change of Name. TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1.) Petitioner: MY TRINH SOOC filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a.) MY TRINH SOOC to JANISE SOOC 2.) THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: 02/03/2023. Time: 8:30 AM. Dept.: X Room: 405. The address of the court is 150 West Commonwealth Ave. Alhambra, CA 91801. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each 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: Los Angeles. Original filed: December 12, 2022. Robin Miller Sloan, Judge of the Superior Court. Published: The Argonaut News 0105/23
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 22PSCP00603
two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: 02/17/23. Time: 8:30 AM. Dept.: L. The address of the court is 400 Civic Center Plaza Pomona, CA 91766. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each 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: Los Angeles. Original filed: December 19, 2022. Peter A. Hernandez, Judge of the Superior Court.
Published: The Argonaut News 0105/23, 0112/23, 0119/23
AMENDED ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 22AHCP00503
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUN-
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. Petition of HANA AHMED , for Change of Name. TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1.) Petitioner: HANA AHMED filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a.) HANA AHMED to HENA AHMED 2.) 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
Please take notice US Storage Centers - Marina Del Rey located at 12700 Braddock Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90066 intends to hold an auction to sell the goods stored by the following tenants at the storage facility. The sale will occur as an online auction via www.storagetr easures.com on 1/19/2023 at 10:00AM. Unless stated otherwise the description of the contents are household goods and furnishings Shane Darren Gudlow (4 units); Ian Kar; Harleen Ann Morikawa. All property is being stored at the above self-storage facility. This sale may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Certain terms and conditions apply. See manager for details.
Published: The Argonaut News 0105/23
Have an event for the calendar? Send it to kkirk@timespublications.com
Jan. 5 & 7
Instructor Austin Hollingshead will host a full-body ice yoga class open to the public. Participants can expect a morning of healing yoga as the class will start with a focus on the core and progress to full-body movements to keep the blood flowing. Yoga mats will be provided. Ice yoga is proven to have man health benefits, from building muscle to improving focus and boosting the immune system. When the body is exposed to low temperatures, it releases endorphins and allows the body to burn more calories as it works to maintain its internal temperature. With over eight years of teaching experience, Austin is a seasoned yoga instructor who has worked for brands such as Equinox and Alo. Classes will be held unless it rains.
1324 Fifth Street, Santa Monica, 9 a.m.
3rd Unity Skateboard Championship
Saturday, Jan. 7
Come check out the 3rd Annual Unity Skateboard Championship at Stoner Plaza from Cosmic Demise and City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation & Parks. In addition to a skateboard contest there will be food and music. $5 contest entry fee, ages 5 and up. For more information, email: ali.cosmicdemise@gmail.com.
1835 Stoner Avenue, Los Angeles, 1 p.m.
On Jan. 12 at 7:30 p.m., BroadStage presents “From Shallows to Seafloor” with marine biologist Diva Amon as part of the National Geographic Live touring speaker series across North America, which brings to life the awe-inspiring stories of National Geographic experts.
Santa Monica’s Black Apology: What Does It Mean for 2023?
Sunday, Jan. 8
Kicking off the New Year on a positive note, the Jan. 8 workshop of the Committee for Racial Justice will return to in-person meetings at the community meeting room of the Thelma Terry Building at Virginia Avenue Park and will have the Black Apology by the City of Santa Monica as its topic. The speaker for the evening will be Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur, who will share her perspectives on the concept of apology, followed by a participatory group discussion on how we feel the apology can be transformed into actions that
would be meaningful and helpful to people. Supper at 6 p.m. and program at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to the workshop that will kick off CRJ’s 2023 programming. For those unable to join in person, the meeting is also accessible via Zoom.
2200 Virginia Avenue, Santa Monica, 6 to 8:30 p.m., bit.ly/3VBe7eM
Grow Native! Gardening Club
Tuesday, Jan. 10
Roll up your sleeves to help beautify Ballona Discovery Park! Get hands-on experience while learning about urban ecology. The time and effort you put in to clear out invasive vegetation gives slow-growing native plants room to thrive. Registration is required and participants must also sign the digital waiver. Activities are recommended for ages 7 and up. Youths 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Visit the website for more info. 13110 Bluff Creek Drive, Los Angeles, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., ballonafriends.org/community-events
Westchester Life Stories Writing Group
Wednesday, Jan. 11
Check out the Westchester Life Stories Writing Group, and write your memories. You are invited to their next meeting. No expectations or judgments, the group is cordial and supportive. Preserve the
memories that have shaped your life regarding family, friends, school, interests, adventures, etc. Create a written legacy for your family. Group meets every Wednesday starting Jan. 11. For more information, email Gene (genenjoycek@aol.com) or Madeline (madelinenella@ yahoo.com) and please indicate “Life Stories” as the subject of your email.
Westchester Family YMCA, Sepulveda and 80th, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Creative Writing with Novelist/Broadway Writer Ashley Griffin
Thursday, Jan. 12
Join novelist, Broadway writer and Santa Monica native Ashley Griffin for a creative writing workshop and reading from her debut novel “The Spindle,” a retelling of “Sleeping Beauty” from the dark fairy’s point of view. Find out what it takes to be a professional writer and find your own literary voice as you explore how to tell a story. For aspiring writers ages 10 to 15. 601 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, 4 to 5 p.m.
National Geographic Live: From Shallows to Seafloor Thursday, Jan. 12
Featured as part of the National Geographic Live touring speaker series across North America, which brings to life awe-inspiring stories of National Geographic experts, is
“From Shallows to Seafloor” with marine biologist Diva Amon. This event is presented by BroadStage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center. Amon’s research on unusual deep-sea habitats and species has taken her to extraordinary depths in some of the remotest parts of the planet. Dive in with her to get to know the fascinating creatures in each unique layer of Earth’s massive underwater habitat—from the familiar sea creatures near the surface to their otherworldly, alien-like cousins that wander the ocean floor. She’ll share stories from her work in the Caribbean, the Pacific and beyond, along with images that shine a light on this vast—and vital—reservoir of biodiversity. Tickets start at $55 and are available online, at the box office or by calling 310-4343200.
1310 11th Street, Santa Monica, 7:30 p.m., broadstage.org
